Design Principles for Using Dielectric Elastomer Transducers Applied to Powered Prosthetics and Orthotics

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dc.contributor.advisorGregg, Robert D.
dc.contributor.advisorVoit, Walter E.
dc.creatorAllen, David Paul
dc.creator.orcid0000-0002-9740-1278
dc.date.accessioned2021-09-20T14:22:32Z
dc.date.available2021-09-20T14:22:32Z
dc.date.created2020-05
dc.date.issued2020-04-21
dc.date.submittedMay 2020
dc.date.updated2021-09-20T14:22:33Z
dc.description.abstractThe advancement of powered prostheses and orthoses is restricted by the shortcomings of available actuator technologies such as electric motors, hydraulics, and pneumatics. Dielectric elastomer transducers (DETs) are a kind of artificial muscle that promises to overcome the shortcomings of the actuators commonly used in powered prostheses and orthoses. However, while much research has investigated how to design DETs themselves for optimal performance, little guidance is available for designing the devices that use DETs in their actuation systems. This work addresses this lack of guidance by reexamining the fundamental principles of DET operation, and then explains four design principles based on those fundamentals. The usefulness of these principles is demonstrated in two example designs that are proofs-of-concept for solutions to actuation challenges. The first design is a variable-stiffness actuator that uses dielectric elastomers to create variable stiffness without the mechanical complexity that plagues state-of-the-art variable stiffness actuator designs. The second design is an ankle-foot orthosis that uses a dielectric elastomer transducer to provide toe li assistance for foot drop patients without the drawbacks of current foot drop solutions.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10735.1/9245
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectRehabilitation technology
dc.subjectProsthesis
dc.subjectActuators
dc.subjectRobotic exoskeletons
dc.subjectOrthopedic apparatus
dc.subjectGait in humans
dc.titleDesign Principles for Using Dielectric Elastomer Transducers Applied to Powered Prosthetics and Orthotics
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
thesis.degree.departmentMechanical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorThe University of Texas at Dallas
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.namePHD

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