Electrochemomechanical and Chemomechanical Devices

Electrochemomechanical and chemomechanical actuation (also called electro­mechanical actuation and artificial muscles) with CPs is one of the more fascinating applications to have emerged very recently. Relatively few groups have been active in this area. Although the Baughman group at Allied-Signal, Inc., Morristown, NJ, USA, claimed to have first conjectured electrochemomechanical actuators and reduced them to initial laboratory practice, the Otero group in San Sebastian, Spain, carried artificial muscles to considerable refinement in the laboratory. The Inganas group in Linkoping, Sweden, studied chemomechanical actuators, and Shahinpoor’s group at Albuquerque, NM, USA, has carried the artificial muscle concept to some refinement with the demonstration of “artificial wings” and “artificial propellers” suitable for installation in small remotely piloted vehicles. Nearly all this work has been carried out since 1990.