A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future Potential
This review will examine the rapidly growing field of soft robotics, with a special emphasis on soft robotic actuators and their applications in bioengineering. Bioengineering has increasingly utilized soft robotics due to their mechanical adaptability and flexibility, with applications including dr...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/13/12/524 |
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| author | Osura Perera Ranjith Liyanapathirana Gaetano Gargiulo Upul Gunawardana |
| author_facet | Osura Perera Ranjith Liyanapathirana Gaetano Gargiulo Upul Gunawardana |
| author_sort | Osura Perera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This review will examine the rapidly growing field of soft robotics, with a special emphasis on soft robotic actuators and their applications in bioengineering. Bioengineering has increasingly utilized soft robotics due to their mechanical adaptability and flexibility, with applications including drug delivery, assistive and wearable devices, artificial organs, and prosthetics. Soft robotic applications, as well as the responsive mechanisms employed in soft robotics, include electrical, magnetic, thermal, photo-responsive, and pressure-driven actuators. Special attention is given to hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators due to their biomimetic properties and innovative combination of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) and hydraulic actuators, which eliminates the limitations of each actuator while introducing capabilities such as self-healing. HASEL actuators combine the fast response and self-sensing features of DEAs, as well as the force generation and adaptability of hydraulic systems. Their self-healing ability from electrical damage not only makes HASELs a unique technology among others but also makes them promising for long-term bioengineering applications. A key contribution of this study is the comparative analysis of the soft actuators, presented in detailed tables. The performance of soft actuators is assessed against a common set of critical parameters, including specific power, strain, maximum actuation stress, energy efficiency, cycle life, and self-healing capabilities. This study has also identified some important research gaps and potential areas where soft robotics may still be developed in the future. Future research should focus on improvements in power supply design, long-term material durability, and enhanced energy efficiency. This review will serve as an intermediate reference for researchers and system designers, guiding the next generation of advancements in soft robotics within bioengineering. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc71daeadbda4f1fad2872c2c4b723ac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0825 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Actuators |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc71daeadbda4f1fad2872c2c4b723ac2024-12-27T14:02:10ZengMDPI AGActuators2076-08252024-12-01131252410.3390/act13120524A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future PotentialOsura Perera0Ranjith Liyanapathirana1Gaetano Gargiulo2Upul Gunawardana3School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, AustraliaThis review will examine the rapidly growing field of soft robotics, with a special emphasis on soft robotic actuators and their applications in bioengineering. Bioengineering has increasingly utilized soft robotics due to their mechanical adaptability and flexibility, with applications including drug delivery, assistive and wearable devices, artificial organs, and prosthetics. Soft robotic applications, as well as the responsive mechanisms employed in soft robotics, include electrical, magnetic, thermal, photo-responsive, and pressure-driven actuators. Special attention is given to hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators due to their biomimetic properties and innovative combination of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) and hydraulic actuators, which eliminates the limitations of each actuator while introducing capabilities such as self-healing. HASEL actuators combine the fast response and self-sensing features of DEAs, as well as the force generation and adaptability of hydraulic systems. Their self-healing ability from electrical damage not only makes HASELs a unique technology among others but also makes them promising for long-term bioengineering applications. A key contribution of this study is the comparative analysis of the soft actuators, presented in detailed tables. The performance of soft actuators is assessed against a common set of critical parameters, including specific power, strain, maximum actuation stress, energy efficiency, cycle life, and self-healing capabilities. This study has also identified some important research gaps and potential areas where soft robotics may still be developed in the future. Future research should focus on improvements in power supply design, long-term material durability, and enhanced energy efficiency. This review will serve as an intermediate reference for researchers and system designers, guiding the next generation of advancements in soft robotics within bioengineering.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/13/12/524soft roboticssoft robotic applicationssoft actuatorsartificial musclesHASEL actuatorsbioengineering |
| spellingShingle | Osura Perera Ranjith Liyanapathirana Gaetano Gargiulo Upul Gunawardana A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future Potential Actuators soft robotics soft robotic applications soft actuators artificial muscles HASEL actuators bioengineering |
| title | A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future Potential |
| title_full | A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future Potential |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future Potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future Potential |
| title_short | A Review of Soft Robotic Actuators and Their Applications in Bioengineering, with an Emphasis on HASEL Actuators’ Future Potential |
| title_sort | review of soft robotic actuators and their applications in bioengineering with an emphasis on hasel actuators future potential |
| topic | soft robotics soft robotic applications soft actuators artificial muscles HASEL actuators bioengineering |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/13/12/524 |
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