A method to study and enhance the energy efficiency of soft electrostatic actuators

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method to measure and improve the energy efficiency of soft electrostatic actuators used in robotics.

Contribution

A comprehensive framework is proposed for evaluating and optimizing the efficiency of soft electrostatic actuators.

Findings

Efficiency of Peano-HASEL actuators reached 63.6%, over three times previous reports.

The method was successfully applied to dielectric elastomer actuators, achieving up to 62.9% efficiency.

Efficiency depends on voltage, force, and actuation frequency.

Abstract

The electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion efficiency of actuators is a key metric, which determines the energy consumption of robotic devices. In the field of soft electrostatic actuators, there is currently no universally agreed-upon way to calculate and measure the efficiency of actuators. This article addresses this gap by introducing a comprehensive method to measure and optimize the efficiency of soft electrostatic actuators, thereby proposing a common framework for efficiency measurement that facilitates the development of highly efficient soft robotic systems.

Actuators drive robotic motion, and their energy conversion efficiency is a key performance metric that informs power consumption. Soft electrostatic actuators promise new opportunities for bioinspired and wearable robotics, being driven by electrical signals and producing high-speed, muscle-like motion. Unlike electromagnetic motors, for which efficiency has been systematically studied, efficiency of soft actuators lacks a standardized definition and measurement method, highlighting the need for a unified framework for the evaluation of their efficiency. Here, we propose a comprehensive method to study electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion in soft electrostatic actuators by analyzing closed cycles on planes spanned by work-conjugate variables: voltage–charge and force–position; our experimental setup allows us to prescribe and measure in real-time all work-conjugate variables and thus, to evaluate efficiency as function of load, electric potential, frequency, and actuator materials. We introduce a practical work cycle to evaluate actuators, and, using Peano-HASEL (Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing ELectrostatic) actuators as a model system, we reveal that efficiency is highly dependent on applied voltage, force, and actuation frequency; within the tested range of parameters, we measure a maximum efficiency of 63.6%, which is more than three times the previously reported value for HASEL actuators. We further study energy losses inherent in mechanical and electrical cycles. We show the general applicability of our method across different electrostatic actuators by applying it to a pure-shear dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA), demonstrating efficiencies up to 62.9%. This comprehensive method will facilitate the study and development of electrostatic actuators for the next generation of highly efficient soft robots.

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