Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels

Alexander G Keller; Qiukai Qi; Yogeenth Kumaresan; Andrew T Conn; Jonathan M Rossiter

doi:10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093

Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels

Alexander G Keller, Qiukai Qi^*, Yogeenth Kumaresan, Andrew T Conn, Jonathan M Rossiter

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

5 Citations (Scopus)

101 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Intelligent materials offer new avenues when designing sustainable robotics as they allow for the creation of dynamic constructs which react autonomously to changes in the environment, such as humidity. Here we present a novel humidity actuator which exploits the unique property of deliquescent salts to allow for the spontaneous rehydration of hydrogels in ambient environments. By soaking a 2% w/v alginate, 3% w/v Agar composite in 1M calcium chloride, an intelligent humidity-driven actuator was developed. The hydrogel was able to gain 73.8±7.1% of its weight from a dehydrated state in just 6 hours through water absorption from ambient air. Using this novel formulation, linear and bilayer bending actuators were constructed. In addition to this, a biodegradable deliquescence-actuated artificial flower was demonstrated, highlighting this material's potential to act as an intelligent humidity actuator for the construction of environmentally-reactive biomimetic sustainable robotics.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9798350332223
ISBN (Print)	9798350332230
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093
Publication status	Published - 15 May 2023
Event	6th IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft) - Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Singapore Duration: 3 Apr 2023 → 7 Apr 2023 https://softroboticsconference.org/

Publication series

Name	IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)
Publisher	IEEE
ISSN (Print)	2769-4526
ISSN (Electronic)	2769-4534

Conference

Conference	6th IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)
Abbreviated title	RoboSoft 2023
Country/Territory	Singapore
City	Singapore
Period	3/04/23 → 7/04/23
Internet address	https://softroboticsconference.org/

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10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093

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This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). Copyright for the images within is retained by the author. The final published version (version of record) is available online via IEEE at https://doi.org/10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093.  Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Accepted author manuscript, 1.54 MBLicence: CC BY

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Keller, A. G., Qi, Q., Kumaresan, Y., Conn, A. T., & Rossiter, J. M. (2023). Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels. In 2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft) (IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). https://doi.org/10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093

@inproceedings{deb1426c28a44b2a8cc541f7bc59cc4d,

title = "Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels",

abstract = "Intelligent materials offer new avenues when designing sustainable robotics as they allow for the creation of dynamic constructs which react autonomously to changes in the environment, such as humidity. Here we present a novel humidity actuator which exploits the unique property of deliquescent salts to allow for the spontaneous rehydration of hydrogels in ambient environments. By soaking a 2% w/v alginate, 3% w/v Agar composite in 1M calcium chloride, an intelligent humidity-driven actuator was developed. The hydrogel was able to gain 73.8±7.1% of its weight from a dehydrated state in just 6 hours through water absorption from ambient air. Using this novel formulation, linear and bilayer bending actuators were constructed. In addition to this, a biodegradable deliquescence-actuated artificial flower was demonstrated, highlighting this material's potential to act as an intelligent humidity actuator for the construction of environmentally-reactive biomimetic sustainable robotics.",

author = "Keller, {Alexander G} and Qiukai Qi and Yogeenth Kumaresan and Conn, {Andrew T} and Rossiter, {Jonathan M}",

year = "2023",

month = may,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093",

language = "English",

isbn = "9798350332230",

series = "IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)",

booktitle = "2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)",

address = "United States",

note = "6th IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), RoboSoft 2023 ; Conference date: 03-04-2023 Through 07-04-2023",

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}

Keller, AG, Qi, Q, Kumaresan, Y, Conn, AT & Rossiter, JM 2023, Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels. in 2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft). IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 6th IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), Singapore, Singapore, 3/04/23. https://doi.org/10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093

Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels. / Keller, Alexander G; Qi, Qiukai; Kumaresan, Yogeenth et al.
2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2023. (IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

TY - GEN

T1 - Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels

AU - Keller, Alexander G

AU - Qi, Qiukai

AU - Kumaresan, Yogeenth

AU - Conn, Andrew T

AU - Rossiter, Jonathan M

PY - 2023/5/15

Y1 - 2023/5/15

N2 - Intelligent materials offer new avenues when designing sustainable robotics as they allow for the creation of dynamic constructs which react autonomously to changes in the environment, such as humidity. Here we present a novel humidity actuator which exploits the unique property of deliquescent salts to allow for the spontaneous rehydration of hydrogels in ambient environments. By soaking a 2% w/v alginate, 3% w/v Agar composite in 1M calcium chloride, an intelligent humidity-driven actuator was developed. The hydrogel was able to gain 73.8±7.1% of its weight from a dehydrated state in just 6 hours through water absorption from ambient air. Using this novel formulation, linear and bilayer bending actuators were constructed. In addition to this, a biodegradable deliquescence-actuated artificial flower was demonstrated, highlighting this material's potential to act as an intelligent humidity actuator for the construction of environmentally-reactive biomimetic sustainable robotics.

AB - Intelligent materials offer new avenues when designing sustainable robotics as they allow for the creation of dynamic constructs which react autonomously to changes in the environment, such as humidity. Here we present a novel humidity actuator which exploits the unique property of deliquescent salts to allow for the spontaneous rehydration of hydrogels in ambient environments. By soaking a 2% w/v alginate, 3% w/v Agar composite in 1M calcium chloride, an intelligent humidity-driven actuator was developed. The hydrogel was able to gain 73.8±7.1% of its weight from a dehydrated state in just 6 hours through water absorption from ambient air. Using this novel formulation, linear and bilayer bending actuators were constructed. In addition to this, a biodegradable deliquescence-actuated artificial flower was demonstrated, highlighting this material's potential to act as an intelligent humidity actuator for the construction of environmentally-reactive biomimetic sustainable robotics.

U2 - 10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093

DO - 10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093

M3 - Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

SN - 9798350332230

T3 - IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)

BT - 2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

T2 - 6th IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)

Y2 - 3 April 2023 through 7 April 2023

ER -

Keller AG, Qi Q, Kumaresan Y, Conn AT , Rossiter JM. Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels. In 2023 IEEE 6th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 2023. (IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)). doi: 10.1109/RoboSoft55895.2023.10122093

Biodegradable Humidity Actuators for Sustainable Soft Robotics using Deliquescent Hydrogels

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