Wang Erlong, Shu Jian, Jin Hu, Tao Zhe, Xie Jie, Tang Shi-Yang, Li Xiangpeng, Li Weihua, Dickey Michael D, Zhang Shiwu
CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
iScience. 2020 Dec 8;24(1):101911. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101911. eCollection 2021 Jan 22.
Liquid metal has demonstrated an enormous potential for developing soft functional devices and machines. However, current liquid metal enabled machines suffer from several issues, such as the requirement of a liquid environment, generation of weak actuating forces, and insufficient maneuverability. To overcome these restrictions, here, a motor is developed based on the electrical actuation of liquid metal droplets without the need for conventional electromagnets. The approach is distinguished by (1) the encapsulation of electrolyte and multiple liquid metal droplets within an enclosed system, and (2) the creation of stable and continuous torque outside a liquid environment. In addition, a liquid metal electrical brush is introduced to operate the motor with low friction and low wear. The unique driving mechanism endows the motor with several advantages, including low friction, no sparking, low noise, versatile working environment, and being built from soft materials that could offer new opportunities for developing soft robotics.
液态金属在开发软功能器件和机器方面已展现出巨大潜力。然而，当前基于液态金属的机器存在若干问题，诸如需要液体环境、产生的驱动力较弱以及机动性不足等。为克服这些限制，在此开发了一种基于液态金属微滴电驱动的电机，无需传统电磁铁。该方法的独特之处在于：（1）在封闭系统内封装电解质和多个液态金属微滴；（2）在液体环境之外产生稳定且持续的扭矩。此外，引入了液态金属电刷以使电机以低摩擦和低磨损运行。这种独特的驱动机制赋予了该电机诸多优势，包括低摩擦、无火花、低噪音、工作环境多样，并且由软材料制成，可为软机器人技术的发展提供新机遇。
