Pneumatic balloon actuator control through integrated microvalves using thermally responsive fluids

Abstract

This paper shows the integration of a valve into the pressure supply channel for a pneumatic balloon actuator (PBA). We employed a microvalve using a thermally responsive fluid as the valve that integrates with the PBA. Aqueous Pluronic® F127 solutions are thermally responsive fluids that change their viscosity as a function of temperature. The viscosity of a Pluronic® F127 solution can be controlled by a heater integrated into the supply channel to close and open the channel. In this paper we also show the measured pressure resistance of the microvalve and the demonstration of a PBA integrated with a microvalve. The integration of a valve into the pneumatic actuator allows designing compact pneumatic actuator systems.