02 Nov

Overall goal of this quarter: Develop a generalized algorithm for creating any type of robot so that the user can input certain requirements and be told exactly how to put together materials to create a robot The upcoming weeks are going to be focused on creating an automated hand. At the end of t...

31 Aug

Making SCP Actuators.pdf Final_Coil_Insertion_Code.ino

28 Aug

In the very beginning of the SCP actuator fabrication process, a major obstacle was attaching the thread to the very center of the stepper motor shaft. As a result, I decided to 3D print a part that would satisfy all of the necessary conditions (fit directly in the center of the shaft and have a hoo...

08 Aug

This week we will be working on integrating the actuators with the printable robots. Thus far, we have an elementary design that shows the 10% contraction of the actuators. This actuator was made from a 20 cm precursor length and coiled under 200 RPM and a 100 gram load. The coiled length was 5 cm....

31 Jul

This week has been a tremendous success for the SCP Actuator team. We were finally able to successfully coil and anneal our actuators. Initially after completing the setup thoroughly and applying all of the conditions of the papers to the experimental setup, the 117/17 thread was still not coiling....

25 Jul

This week on the SCP Actuator team we focused on creating a more suitable setup for the coil insertion process. Last week’s insertion process resulted in uneven coils; therefore, Wenzhong and I suspected that this was due to the fact that the thread was not held in the same plane as the rotation of...

20 Jul

The primary goals of this week are to create fully functioning SCP actuators and develop the design for the integration of the SCP actuators within the printable robotic gripper. Thus far, Wenzhong, Devon, Anthony, and I have developed a setup for twist insertion which consists of a servo motor, the...

24 Jun

Over the course of the spring quarter, I have been working on the transition from understanding the theory behind super coiled polymer actuators to developing the actual manufacturing process for these actuators. This experience has invoked in me a greater appreciation not only for the overall “rese...

01 Mar

This week I focused on solidifying the relationships between the equations in my table of equations. I found another article by the authors I have been referencing throughout this entire process (http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=7864464). This article provided much more insight in...

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