University of Michigan

Alan Wineman

Sridhar Kota

Joshua Bishop-Moser

Michael Fisher

Audrey Sedal

Margaret Kohler

An actuator system is provided having a fluidic body member having a surface configured to be deformable in response to a pressure differential. One or more auxetic elements are disposed on and engage the surface of the fluidic body member in the form of a network of beam elements. The auxetic element has a negative Poisson's ratio resulting in kinematics such that upon application of the internal fluid pressure, the surface of the fluidic body member is caused to have specific kinematics enabling planar and 3D motions. In some embodiments, the plurality of non-auxetic elements cooperate with a plurality of auxetic elements.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Alan Wineman