Collaborative Research: Design Framework for Biomimetic Elasto-Fluidic Systems

该奖项的研究目标是制定弹性流体系统（EFS）的设计方法。EFS利用流体压力使具有调谐柔性的材料封套变形。它们在自然界中无处不在，可以在从树木到蠕虫到章鱼的生物体中找到。这些系统实现了广泛的功能，包括所需的结构，复杂的运动，灵活性和有效的能量传输。弹性流体系统在机器人、机器、医疗设备和消费产品中有许多潜在的应用。为了解决所提出的研究的主要目标，有必要调查广泛的技术领域，以表征支配EFSs行为的显著物理现象。该表征将用于开发一种系统的和通用的方法，以使用各种材料在多个尺度上创建EFS。设计方法将通过设计和制造新颖的概念验证原型来验证。如果成功，研究的广泛影响是广泛的。EFSs的系统综合代表了机械设计的范式转变。EFS基于一组完全不同的假设进行操作，这些假设促进了更广泛的功能和优势，包括更低的功耗和维护要求、设计的简单性和优雅性、更低的长期成本以及更高的精度。这些好处可能会被证明是深远的其他领域的工程。除了对其他技术领域的研究的影响，PI？在高中和本科阶段，我们都有吸引下一代工程师的既得利益。与当地高中教师合作，PI？美国将在高中物理课程中创建、实施、评估和传播整合机械工程和生物灵感设计的模块。这些活动将以期刊形式提供，其结果将在教育会议上传播。

The research objective of this award is to formulate a methodology for the design of elasto-fluidic systems (EFSs). EFSs utilize fluid pressure to deform a material envelope with tuned flexibility. They are ubiquitous in nature and may be found in organisms ranging from trees to worms to octopi. These systems achieve a wide range of functionality including desired structure, complex motion, flexibility, and efficient transmission of energy. There are numerous potential applications for elasto-fluidic systems in robots, machines, medical devices, and consumer products. To address the primary goals of the proposed research, it will be necessary to investigate a broad range of technical fields to characterize the salient physical phenomena that govern the behavior of EFSs. The characterization will be utilized in developing a systematic and general method to create EFSs at multiple scales with various materials. The design method will be validated through the design and fabrication of novel proof-of-concept prototypes.If successful, the broader impacts of the research are extensive. The systematic synthesis of EFSs represents a paradigm shift in mechanical design. EFSs operate on a completely different set of assumptions that facilitate a wider range of functionality and benefits including lower power and maintenance requirements, simplicity and elegance in design, lower long-term cost, and increased precision. These benefits may prove to be far reaching to other fields in engineering. Beyond the impacts of the research on other technical fields, the PI?s have a vested interest in engaging the next generation of engineers at both the high school and undergraduate levels. In collaboration with local high school teachers, the PI?s have will create, implement, assess, and disseminate modules in high school physics courses that integrate mechanical engineering and biologically inspired design. These activities will be made publically available, and their results will be disseminated at educational conferences.