Biomimetic "Smart" Functional Materials for Developing Soft Robotic Devices

用于开发软机器人设备的仿生“智能”功能材料

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04650
• 负责人: Zhao, Boxin
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=737763
• 关键词: Biomimetic; Smart; Functional; Materials; Developing

The proposed research program is to develop "smart" functional materials with superior properties in terms of reversible shape change and surface adhesion, which are prerequisite for building soft robotic devices. Soft robots are next-generation robots, which can be programmed and cooperate with humans to perform delicate tasks, for instance, to sense/search for lost items in constrained environments, or to perform surgeries inside human bodies. The field of soft robotics is exciting and just emerging worldwide. Inspired by the superior functionalities such as locomotion, adhesion, sensing, self-cleaning, shape morphing in biological systems, this program will develop a suite of stimuli-responsive functional smart materials and systems, and innovative processes to build sensing and robotic devices with tailored surface adhesion. To achieve this, we will apply recent advances in polymer science, interfacial science and engineering, micro and nano fabrication, and additive manufacturing (i.e. 3D printing) techniques to synthesize smart polymers, to formulate them with functional nanoparticles (e.g. graphene, conductive nanofibers), fabricate or print into desired shapes. The material and process parameters including the polymer phase-transition temperature, nanoparticle-polymer interaction, nanoparticle dispersion, rheological characteristics, and curing mechanisms will be investigated and modulated for 3D printing and other fabrication processes. The relationship between material properties and responsiveness to stimuli in terms of both shape changes and surface adhesion will be systematically investigated to derive scientific insights and generate new knowledge, likely leading to revolutionary advances in the field of biomimetic research and creation of smart materials. Innovative technical implications will be explored to translate the material development into effective applications for smart robotic devices with tailored surface adhesion. The acquired scientific knowledge and technological development, trained HQPs will address the increasing demand of functional materials and robotic devices in many current and future innovative manufacturing processes, and help maintain the competitive advantage of Canadian scientific community and manufacturing industries.

拟议的研究计划是在可逆的形状变化和表面粘附方面开发具有出色特性的“智能”功能材料，这是构建软机器人设备的先决条件。软机器人是下一代机器人，可以与人类进行编程和合作以执行精致的任务，例如在受约束环境中感知/寻找丢失的物品，或者在人体内部进行手术。软机器人技术的领域令人兴奋，并且只是在全球范围内出现。受到诸如运动，粘附，感应，自我清洁，形状变形等卓越功能的启发，该程序将开发一套刺激性反应性的功能性智能材料和系统，以及具有量身定制的表面粘合剂来构建感应和机器人设备的创新过程。为了实现这一目标，我们将应用聚合物科学，界面科学和工程，微型和纳米制造以及添加剂制造（即3D打印）技术的最新进展来合成智能聚合物，以功能性的纳米粒子（例如，graphene，导电的Nananofibers），制造或打印成糖的Shapes Shapes Shapes Shapes。材料和过程参数，包括聚合物相转换温度，纳米颗粒聚合物相互作用，纳米颗粒色散，流变特性和固化机制，并调查3D打印和其他制造过程。在形状变化和表面粘附方面，物质特性与对刺激的反应之间的关系将被系统地研究以获得科学见解并产生新的知识，这可能导致仿生研究领域的革命进步和智能材料的创造。将探索创新的技术含义，以将材料开发转化为具有量身定制的表面粘附的智能机器人设备的有效应用。经过培训的HQP获得了获得的科学知识和技术发展，将解决许多当前和未来创新制造过程中功能材料和机器人设备的需求，并有助于维持加拿大科学界和制造业的竞争优势。