Actuator, Manufacturing Method Thereof, and Robot

Humidity-Responsive Actuator Using Aligned Nanofiber Moisture-Responsive Layers

This technology relates to a humidity-responsive actuator that operates without external electrical energy by utilizing the expansion of a moisture-responsive layer and the asymmetric behavior of an inactive layer in response to changes in relative humidity, as well as its manufacturing method and applications in robotics.

Conventional actuators require an external power supply, leading to a high dependency on energy sources and the need for additional wiring and power units.

This technology proposes a method of stacking a moisture-responsive layer of unidirectionally aligned nanofibers formed by electrospinning with a moisture-inactive layer. By implementing a driving unit that undergoes mechanical bending and straightening due to humidity differences, it provides an actuator that operates solely on environmental energy without the need for an external power source. It can be applied to environment-responsive smart materials, self-powered sensors, and autonomous robots, offering the potential for next-generation actuators free from the constraints of batteries and wiring.

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Key Features:

• A moisture-responsive layer containing multiple nanofibers capable of expanding and contracting based on the amount of atmospheric moisture.
• An inactive layer that is unresponsive to moisture, inducing asymmetric behavior relative to the moisture-responsive layer to create bending deformation.
• The moisture-responsive layer is configured with multiple nanofibers stacked with gaps, providing porosity and unidirectional alignment.
• An actuator where the elongation along the longitudinal direction of the nanofibers increases as relative humidity rises.