Abstract: A seat that includes an upper surface, a lower surface, one or more pressure sensors communicatively coupled to a controller, and a plurality of artificial muscles disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. Each of the plurality of artificial muscles is communicatively coupled to the controller. Each of the plurality of artificial muscles includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: A storage compartment assembly including a storage compartment having at least one inside surface and defining an opening for receiving an object, one or more artificial muscles disposed within the storage compartment along the inside surface. Each artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated position and an actuated position such that actuation from the non-actuated position to the actuated position directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region to expand the expandable fluid region into the storage compartment.

Abstract: An actuatable container includes a first electrode panel and a second electrode panel, wherein the first electrode panel and the second electrode panel each comprises an electrode, an electrode insulation coating surrounding the electrode, an electrode lead, and a plurality of fold regions, the first electrode panel and the second electrode panel are each foldable along the plurality of fold regions to permit the first electrode panel and the second electrode panel to move between a first form and a second form, and the first electrode panel is electrically engageable with the second electrode panel, upon application of a voltage to the first electrode panel and the second electrode panel, to retain the first electrode panel and the second electrode panel in the second form.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device including a first plate and a second plate coupled to the first plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate and the second plate, a bladder positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the bladder housing a fluid, a first fixed electrode coupled to the second plate, and a flexible electrode coupled to the first plate and extending along the first fixed electrode.

Abstract: An artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. One or both of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening. The first electrode and the second electrode each include two or more fan portions and two or more bridge portions. Each fan portion includes a first end having an inner length, a second end having an outer length, a first side edge extending from the second end, and a second side edge extending from the second end. The outer length is greater than the inner length. Each bridge portion interconnecting adjacent fan portions at the first end.

Abstract: An artificial muscle that includes a first end plate opposite a second end plate, a flexible enclosure extending from the first end plate to the second end plate and housing a dielectric fluid, and a reciprocating electrode stack housed within the flexible enclosure and coupled to and extending between the first end plate and the second end plate. The reciprocating electrode stack includes one or more electrode pairs, each electrode pair having a positive electrode and a negative electrode physically coupled to one another along a first edge portion of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The artificial muscle also includes a plurality of electrode leads electrically coupled to the reciprocating electrode stack. Each individual electrode lead of the plurality of electrode leads extends from an individual electrode of the reciprocating electrode stack to the first end plate or the second end plate.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device including a first plate and a second plate coupled to the first plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate and the second plate, a bladder positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the bladder housing a fluid, a first fixed electrode coupled to the second plate, and a flexible electrode coupled to the first plate and extending along the first fixed electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly includes positioning a layer stack comprising an electrode positioned between an electrode insulator and a support polymer in a vacuum bag, removing air from the vacuum bag thereby vacuum coupling the electrode to the electrode insulator, and removing the layer stack from the vacuum bag, where upon removal of the layer stack from the vacuum bag, the electrode remains vacuum coupled to the electrode insulator and the electrode insulator is in direct contact with the electrode, thereby forming an electrode assembly.

Abstract: A layered actuation structure includes a first platform pair and a second platform pair. Each of the first platform pair and the second platform pair include an actuation platform and a mounting platform, forming an actuation cavity of each of the first platform pair and the second platform pair. One or more connecting ledges of each platform pair couple at least one of the actuation platform and the mounting platform of each platform pair to at least one of an actuation arm and a support arm, respectively. A collective stiffness of the one or more connecting ledges of the first platform pair is different than a collective stiffness of the one or more connecting ledges of the second platform pair. The layered actuation structure also includes one or more artificial muscles disposed in the actuation cavity of the first platform pair and the second platform pair.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device that includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate, and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing and a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate. A first alignment aid is positioned between the first plate and the first electrode, the first alignment aid having an inner surface facing the first plate and an outer surface facing the first electrode.

Abstract: An actuator that includes a shell, a ring structure within the shell, a shape-memory material wire fixed at opposite points of the ring structure to extend in a first direction across a width of the ring structure, and a cooling fluid provided within the shell and in fluid communication with the shape-memory material wire. When the shape-memory material wire is heated, the shape-memory material wire contracts in the first direction to reduce the width of the ring structure and increases a height of the ring structure extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly includes positioning a layer stack comprising an electrode positioned between an electrode insulator and a support polymer in a vacuum bag, removing air from the vacuum bag thereby vacuum coupling the electrode to the electrode insulator, and removing the layer stack from the vacuum bag, where upon removal of the layer stack from the vacuum bag, the electrode remains vacuum coupled to the electrode insulator and the electrode insulator is in direct contact with the electrode, thereby forming an electrode assembly.

Abstract: An artificial muscle chair device includes a plurality of artificial muscles embedded in a chair. Each artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region. A first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing. The artificial muscle chair device further includes a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The first and second electrodes electrostatically attract, inflating the expandable fluid region with dielectric fluid and thereby applying selective pressure to an outer surface of the chair.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device that includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate, and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing and a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device includes an artificial muscle, a first plate coupled to a second plate, and a shape memory alloy wire. The artificial muscle includes a housing, a first electrode and a second electrode, and a dielectric fluid. The housing includes a first film layer, a second film layer, an electrode region, and an expandable fluid region. The first electrode and the second electrode are each disposed in the electrode region of the housing. The dielectric fluid is disposed within the housing. The first plate and the second plate are positioned within the housing, the first plate positioned between the first film layer and the first electrode, and the second plate positioned between the second film layer and the second electrode. The shape memory alloy wire extends from the first plate to the second plate and through the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: An artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. One or both of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening. The first electrode and the second electrode each include two or more fan portions and two or more bridge portions. Each fan portion includes a first end having an inner length, a second end having an outer length, a first side edge extending from the second end, and a second side edge extending from the second end. The outer length is greater than the inner length. Each bridge portion interconnecting adjacent fan portions at the first end.

Abstract: An electrode pair is provided including a first electrode and a second electrode. Each of the first electrode and the second electrode have an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a lead extending outwardly from the first end. The lead has a first width at the first end. The second end of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode have a recess formed therein having a first terminus and a second terminus. A second width extends between the first terminus and the second terminus of the recess. The recess is defined by a saw-tooth pattern. When the first electrode is positioned on the second electrode, the recess of the at least one of the first electrode is adjacent the lead of the other electrode.

Abstract: Artificial muscles are provided including a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode positioned in the electrode region of the housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and a stiffening member positioned between the housing and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode. The stiffening member increases a stiffness of the housing in a direction toward the expandable fluid region from an opposite edge of the electrode region. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: A layered actuation structure includes one or more actuation platforms interleaved with one or more mounting platforms to form one or more actuation cavities between platform pairs, each platform pair having an individual mounting platform and an individual actuation platform. The layered actuation structure also includes a support arm coupled to the one or more mounting platforms, an actuation arm coupled to the one or more actuation platforms, and one or more artificial muscles disposed in each of the one or more actuation cavities. The one or more artificial muscles each include an electrode pair that is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state to direct a dielectric fluid into an expandable fluid region of a housing of the artificial muscle, expanding the expandable fluid region thereby applying pressure to the one or more actuation platforms, generating translational motion of the one or more actuation platforms.

Abstract: An artificial muscle stack that includes a plurality of artificial muscle layers. Each artificial muscle layer includes one or more artificial muscles having a housing with an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair having a first and second electrode positioned in the electrode region. The first and second electrodes each include two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. The two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions. At least one of the first and second electrode includes a central opening positioned between the tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. The plurality of artificial muscle layers are arranged such that the expandable fluid region of the artificial muscles of each artificial muscle layer overlaps at least one tab portion of one or more artificial muscles of an adjacent artificial muscle layer.