A Light-Powered Self-Circling Slider on an Elliptical Track with a Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber

TL;DR

This paper introduces a light-powered slider system that moves continuously on an elliptical track using a liquid crystal elastomer, showing potential for efficient motion in various applications.

Contribution

The novelty lies in demonstrating a self-circling LCE-slider system on an elliptical track with light-powered motion and analyzing its dynamic behavior.

Findings

Self-circling frequency is unaffected by initial tangential velocity but influenced by light intensity and material properties.

Elliptical motion provides higher angular velocity and frequency compared to circular motion.

The system shows adaptability to curved trajectories and potential for energy conversion in robotics and transportation.

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an innovative light-powered LCE-slider system that enables continuous self-circling on an elliptical track and is comprised of a light-powered LCE string, slider, and rigid elliptical track. By formulating and solving dimensionless dynamic equations, we explain static and self-circling states, emphasizing self-circling dynamics and energy balance. Quantitative analysis reveals that the self-circling frequency of LCE-slider systems is independent of the initial tangential velocity but sensitive to light intensity, contraction coefficients, elastic coefficients, the elliptical axis ratio, and damping coefficients. Notably, elliptical motion outperforms circular motion in angular velocity and frequency, indicating greater efficiency. Reliable self-circling under constant light suggests applications in periodic motion fields, especially celestial mechanics. Additionally, the system’s remarkable adaptability to a wide range of curved trajectories exemplifies its flexibility and versatility, while its energy absorption and conversion capabilities position it as a highly potential candidate for applications in robotics, construction, and transportation.

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