Pneumatic Actuator Using Polyimide Film for Liquid Nitrogen Temperature

D. Yamaguchi, T. Hanaki, R. Kamimura, Y. Ishino, M. Hara, M. Takasaki, T. Mizuno
Saitama University, Saitama-shi, Japan

Abstract:
A purpose of our research is development of soft robotics called Filmotics. Filmotics is a synthesized term of Film and Robotics. In this study, we introduce our soft film actuator. The actuator can be driven in liquid nitrogen temperature. The actuator is made from two different-size polyimide films. Lager film is folded in pleats, and the pleats is expanded by applying driving gas. From the expanding, the actuator generates a bending motion. We have succeeded in driving the actuator at 78 K. The generated force was 84 mN when the applied gas pressure was 26.1 kPa. However, there was a problem with a leakage from a joint between a pneumatic pipe and the actuator. Thus, we fabricated and evaluated new connecting method using heat shrink tube. From evaluation, the leakage was decreased by using new method.