New ferroelectric material could give robots muscles

Image showing actuation of ferroelectric polymers driven by Joule heating

By Jamie Oberdick

UNVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A new type of ferroelectric polymer that is exceptionally good at converting electrical energy into mechanical strain holds promise as a high-performance motion controller or “actuator” with great potential for applications in medical devices, advanced robotics, and precision positioning systems, according to a team of international researchers led by Penn State.

Sulin Zhang

Sulin Zhang

Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics and Bioengineering

(e) suz10@psu.edu
(o) 814-865-7640
N-231 Millennium Science Building

https://sites.esm.psu.edu/wiki/research:suz10:start
Qiming Zhang

Qiming Zhang

Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering

(e) qxz1@psu.edu
(o) 814-863-8994
N-219 Millennium Science Complex

Thomas Shrout

Thomas Shrout

Senior Scientist and Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

(e) trs16@psu.edu
(o) 814-865-1645
N-332 Millennium Science Complex