SBIR Phase I: Non-linear Mechanical System for Creating Propulsive Thrust in a Fluid Medium

SBIR 第一阶段：在流体介质中产生推进推力的非线性机械系统

• 批准号: 1315383
• 负责人: Baoxiang Shan
• 金额: $ 14.99万
• 依托单位: Pliant Energy Systems LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-07-01 至 2014-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1315383&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Non; linear; Mechanical

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a biologically inspired undulatory swimming device in which all motion is achieved by the cyclical elastic deformation of a pre-stressed form-finding structural system actuated by Electroactive Polymer (EAP) transducers. The design presents and integrates multiple mechanical, electrical and system control innovations to: ? separate the challenges of form-finding from actuation to enable a relatively simple system to reproduce undulatory motion (simplifying manufacture and control, improving reliability)? maximize energy efficiency by recycling priming energy, both electrical and mechanical, required by EAP transducers.? overcome limitations of EAP transducers as pull-actuators? develop low duty cycle power electronics and control algorithms for flexible support of phased EAP actuation/generation cyclesUsing numerical modeling and transfer functions, analytical models will be developed for (i) the electromechanical response of selected EAP transducers (ii) the microcontroller-driven architecture for operating arrays of high-voltage, low duty cycle transducers (iii) the fluid-structure interactions produced by resilient bi-stable finlike elements. The company will integrate these models with its existing Abaqus FEA model of fin-like elements to achieve system virtualization and parameter extraction for proof of concept and further optimization. A drive system subassembly will be built for testing and model validation.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be development of a propulsor emulating the high efficiency and maneuverability of animal models with potential applications in propulsion and as well as other fluid-structure-interaction devices. Implementation in Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), particularly if a potential self-recharging variant is developed, would enable enhanced performance and endurance. The market for new UUV?s 2010-2019 has been estimated at 1,144 units, value $2.3 billion, indicating the economic incentive to enhance UUV energy efficiency and reliability to minimize downtime and operational risk associated with re-charging or repair in the field. Improved economics for UUV technology may facilitate socially important work in engineering and research, including development of offshore power generation and oceanographic surveying and sensing to monitor climate change and its impacts. The work explores the opportunities presented by bi-stable form-finding behavior in actuated systems to achieve useful mechanical work. Rigorous physical modeling is required both to develop such systems and test the limits of EAP actuators.

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将开发一种受生物启发的波动游泳装置，其中所有运动都通过由电活性聚合物(EAP)传感器驱动的预应力找形结构系统的循环弹性变形来实现。该设计展示并集成了多种机械、电气和系统控制创新，以：？将找形的挑战从驱动中分离出来，以使相对简单的系统能够再现波动运动(简化制造和控制，提高可靠性)？通过回收EAP传感器所需的电气和机械启动能量，最大限度地提高能效。克服EAP传感器作为拉动式执行器的局限性？开发低占空比电力电子和控制算法，以灵活支持相控EAP致动/发电循环利用数值建模和传递函数，将为(I)选定EAP换能器的机电响应(Ii)用于操作高压、低占空比换能器阵列的微控制器驱动架构(Iii)由弹性双稳态鳍状元件产生的流体-结构相互作用开发分析模型。该公司将把这些模型与其现有的鳍状单元的ABAQUS有限元模型相集成，以实现系统虚拟化和参数提取，以进行概念验证和进一步优化。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是开发一种推进器，模拟动物模型的高效率和可操作性，在推进和其他流体-结构-交互设备中具有潜在的应用。在无人水下航行器(UUV)中的实施，特别是如果开发出潜在的自我充电变种，将能够提高性能和耐力。新的UUV？S 2010-2019年的市场估计为1,144台，价值23亿美元，这表明了提高UUV能源效率和可靠性的经济动机，以将停机时间和与现场充电或维修相关的运营风险降至最低。改善UUV技术的经济性可能有助于在工程和研究方面开展对社会具有重要意义的工作，包括开发近海发电和海洋调查和遥感，以监测气候变化及其影响。这项工作探索了在驱动系统中双稳态找形行为带来的机会，以实现有用的机械功。开发这样的系统和测试EAP执行器的极限都需要严格的物理模型。