Development of Localized, Light-Weight Pressurization Mechanisms: Approach, Feasibility, and Impact

This work presents a novel gas-generation mechanism designed to enable bioinspired actuators. Specifically, the fundamental aspects involved in harnessing the gaseous products from biologically catalyzed reactions and recycling the gases into an actuation pressurization scheme are explored. The capability of having such a self-regulating, self-regenerating system of gas generation could provide the necessary pneumatically-driven force to enable devices that require localized pressurization, such as rubber muscle actuators. This work reports 1) the utilization of biological systems to produce gaseous products that will ultimately affect actuator density in situ, and 2) the construction of a freely moving power rig to monitor rubber muscle actuator performance under pressure generated from biologically powered reactions.