Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
9.2.12
S
LITHERING
D
EVICE
Snake-like locomotion can be accomplished by arranging proper segments of the
IPMNC in series and controlling each segment's bending by applying sequential
input power to each segment in a cascade mode.
9.2.13
P
ARTS
O
RIENTATION
/F
EEDING
Soft-parts orientors or feeders for delicate handling of parts in a manufacturing
assembly line can be made from flaps made out of IPMNC membrane (fig. 9.35).
9.2.14
M
USICAL
I
NSTRUMENTS
Because mechanical flexing of IPMNC materials generates a voltage and if these
materials are already stretched they create different frequency output signals, one
can use them as a musical instrument. Figure 9.36 depicts a one-string musical
instrument that operates like a cello or a counterbase and generates very low-
frequency musical tones.
9.2.15
F
LAT
K
EYBOARDS
, D
ATA
A
TTIRE
,
AND
B
RAILLE
A
LPHABET
The flat keyboard, data attire, boots and gloves, and, particularly, the Braille alphabet
applications of IPMNC are rather straightforward in the sense that the material is
An eight finger synthetic muscle.
It has a thickness of approximately
2 mm.
A rod shape synthetic muscle.
It has a rectangular cross-section of
approximately 8 mm
×
8 mm.
A coil type synthetic muscle.
A circular shape synthetic muscle.
FIGURE 9.35
Various shapes of IPMNCs with three
-
dimensional shapes
.
