Rubbery computing

Katherine E. Wilson; E.-F. Markus Henke; Geoffrey A. Slipher; Iain A. Anderson

doi:10.1117/12.2260393

17 April 2017 Rubbery computing

Katherine E. Wilson, E.-F. Markus Henke, Geoffrey A. Slipher, Iain A. Anderson

Proceedings Volume 10163, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2017; 101632H (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2260393
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2017, Portland, Oregon, United States

Abstract

Electromechanically coupled dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) and dielectric elastomer switches (DESs) may form digital logic circuitry made entirely of soft and flexible materials. The expansion in planar area of a DEA exerts force across a DES, which is a soft electrode with strain-dependent resistivity. When compressed, the DES drops steeply in resistance and changes state from non-conducting to conducting. Logic operators may be achieved with different arrangements of interacting DE actuators and switches. We demonstrate combinatorial logic elements, including the fundamental Boolean logic gates, as well as sequential logic elements, including latches and flip-flops. With both data storage and signal processing abilities, the necessary calculating components of a soft computer are available. A noteworthy advantage of a soft computer with mechanosensitive DESs is the potential for responding to environmental strains while locally processing information and generating a reaction, like a muscle reflex.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Katherine E. Wilson, E.-F. Markus Henke, Geoffrey A. Slipher, and Iain A. Anderson "Rubbery computing", Proc. SPIE 10163, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2017, 101632H (17 April 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2260393

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available