2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Development of lightweight artificial muscle with polymer threads and carbon nanotube yarn towards true human support
| Project/Area Number |
19K21946
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Medium-sized Section 20:Mechanical dynamics, robotics, and related fields
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| Research Institution | Okayama University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
松本 英俊 東京工業大学, 物質理工学院, 教授 (40345393)
西川 亘 岡山大学, 自然科学研究科, 助教 (80243492)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | 人工筋肉 / カーボンナノチューブ紡績糸 / ポリマー糸 / エントロピー弾性 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
To realize an artificial muscle that stretches and contracts elastomeric yarns using Joule heat generated by applying an electric current to carbon nanotube (CNT) webs, the concept of a "stiff" actuator mechanism, which has been developed so far, cannot be used. The elastic modulus of the CNTs is larger than that of the elastomer, which prevents the elastomeric yarn from stretching and thus prevents the elastomeric yarn from stretching sufficiently. In order to solve this problem, we proposed a method of wrapping CNT webs around elastomeric yarns, and by optimizing the fabrication procedures, we were able to achieve higher force generation than that of bio-muscular or nylon 6,6 yarns.
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| Free Research Field |
ナノ材料・ナノ物性
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
本研究は，カーボンナノチューブ（CNT）ウエブをエラストマー糸に巻き付ける方法で複合化した人工筋肉の実現を目指している．大きな変位と高出力を実現する複合構造を検討し，ベンチマークとなる生体筋やナイロン6,6（ポリマー糸）に比べて大きな発生力を実現した．CNTウエブに電流を印加し発生するジュール熱で，細いエラストマー糸が伸長収縮動作する新たな動力源となり，柔軟，機械駆動装置や金属を使うこと無く大きく伸縮し，軽量で高い出力を同時実現できる．柔らかさと曲げなど適応性を限りなく追究した人型ロボットの要素技術の確立につながり，ロボットやパワーアシストスーツなどによる人間支援の要求に資する技術である．
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