Collaborative Research: Design Framework for Biomimetic Elasto-Fluidic Systems

该奖项的研究目标是制定一种弹流系统(EFSS)的设计方法。EFSS利用流体压力使材料包络变形，并具有可调的灵活性。它们在自然界中无处不在，可能存在于从树木到蠕虫再到章鱼的各种有机体中。这些系统实现了广泛的功能，包括所需的结构、复杂的运动、灵活性和高效的能量传输。弹流系统在机器人、机器、医疗器械和消费品中有许多潜在的应用。为了达到拟议研究的主要目标，有必要对广泛的技术领域进行调查，以确定支配EFS行为的显著物理现象。这一特征将被用来开发一种系统和通用的方法，以用各种材料在多个尺度上创建EFS。该设计方法将通过新型概念验证样机的设计和制造得到验证。如果成功，该研究将产生更广泛的影响。EFS的系统综合代表了机械设计的一种范式转变。EFSS在一套完全不同的假设下运行，促进了更广泛的功能和优势，包括更低的功率和维护要求、设计的简单和优雅、更低的长期成本和更高的精度。这些好处可能会对工程领域的其他领域产生深远影响。除了研究对其他技术领域的影响外，派？S在聘请高中和本科水平的下一代工程师方面也有既得利益。与当地高中教师合作，皮？S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。这些活动将向公众公布，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.