<title>Biologically inspired hexapedal robot using field-effect electroactive elastomer artificial muscles</title>

Abstract

Small, autonomous mobile robots are needed for applications such as reconnaissance over difficult terrain or internal inspection of large industrial systems. Previous work in experimental biology and with legged robots has revealed the advantages of using leg actuators with inherent compliance for robust, autonomous locomotion over uneven terrain. Recently developed field-effect electroactive elastomer artificial muscle actuators offer such compliance as well as attractive performance parameters such as force/weight and efficiency, so we developed a small (670 g) six-legged robot, FLEX, using AM actuators. Electrically, AM actuators are a capacitive, high-impedance load similar to piezoelectrics, which makes them difficult to rive optimally with conventional circuitry. Still, we were able to devise a modular, microprocessor-based control system capable of driving 12 muscles with up to 5,000 V, operating form an on- board battery. The artificial muscle actuators had excellent compliance and peak performance, but suffered from poor uniformity and degradation over time. FLEX is the first robot of its kind. While there is room for improvement in some of the robot systems such as actuators and their drivers, this work has validated the idea of using artificial muscle actuators in biologically inspired walking robots.