University of Dundee

Luigi Manfredi

Alfred Cuschieri

An actuator () is described having a first part (), a second part (), and a body portion () between the first and second parts, wherein the body portion includes at least one chamber () configured to be pressurised and the body portion has a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of cables (), wherein each of the plurality of cables is arranged in a respective at least partial spiral with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body portion (); and wherein the plurality of cables are arranged such that the application of a selected force to at least one of the cables causes a desired movement of the first part relative to the second part.

Actuator

A transmission system () includes a first piston (), a second piston () and a modulator piston (). The first piston () receives an input force (F), the second piston () transmits an output force (F), and the modulator piston () transmits a modulating force (F&#x3e;which modulates the input force (F) received by the second piston () to implement tremor cancellation and force and/or provide variable motion scaling.

Transmission system

An actuator includes first and second ends defining an axis there between, and at least four inflatable chambers. Each inflatable chamber is resiliently deformable, elongate, and extends axially between the first and second ends and circumferentially about a central core defined between the ends and by the inflatable chambers. A first pair of the four inflatable chambers is contra rotatory about the core to a second pair of the four inflatable chambers. A pressure change in one or more of the inflatable chambers causes motion of the first end relative to the second end. The actuators can be employed in robots or robotic arms.

Soft actuators

An actuator () includes a moving member () pivotally connected to a base unit () for rotation about an axis. The driving force for rotation of the moving member () relative to the base unit () is provided by a pair of antagonistically operating shape memory alloy (SMA) wires () and transmitted via a torsional spring (). An endoscope, or a snake-like robot (), may include one or more of the actuators ().

Growing community of inventors

Dundee, United Kingdom

Luigi Manfredi