Description du projet
Des muscles artificiels aux mouvements réalistes grâce à des matériaux innovants
Le développement de «muscles artificiels» gagne du terrain grâce aux progrès technologiques accomplis dans les domaines de la robotique et de la médecine. Bien que les dispositifs actionneurs (convertissant l’énergie en mouvement) soient importants dans la vie quotidienne, ils ne peuvent pas produire des mouvements souples, lisses et silencieux qui imitent les mouvements et la dextérité de l’homme. Le projet E-MOTION, financé par l’UE, développera des matériaux souples innovants à l’échelle macroscopique, qui exploitent des molécules à transition de spin commutable et affichent des performances remarquables en termes d’actionnement. Grâce à une combinaison révolutionnaire de méthodes d’ingénierie des matériaux, le projet confèrera aux matériaux commutables de propriétés d’actionnement électrique, d’autodétection et de collecte d’énergie. Fort de ses connaissances approfondies de la relation entre la structure profonde et la propriété mécanique de ces matériaux, E-MOTION utilisera ces derniers comme base à la conception d’actionneurs originaux en fibres tressées ainsi que des dispositifs actionneurs microfluidiques imprimés en 3D.
Objectif
Actuator devices converting energy into motion are a fundamental part of everyday life. However, there is currently an unmet need in actuation technologies to provide soft, smooth, noiseless movement that can mimic human motion and dexterity. The development of such “artificial muscles” is burgeoning in both interest and importance as it would enable significant advances in areas as important as robotics, medicine and aeronautics. To enable a step-change in this field, E·MOTION proposes to develop unprecedented macroscopic-scale soft materials based on switchable spin crossover molecules with remarkable actuating performances. Using an innovative combination of material engineering methods these materials will be endowed with electrical actuation, self-sensing and energy harvesting properties, which will be a major breakthrough. More fundamentally, E·MOTION aims at understanding in-depth structure vs. mechanical property relationships in these switchable materials, which is essential for processing and optimizing their function. A multiscale experimental and theoretical approach will be used to assess how the molecular deformation and change in molecular connectivity under external stimuli affect macroscopic mechanical properties as well as the cycle life. Finally, E·MOTION will take a major shift on the side of actuator design by the development of original fibre-braided actuators as well as 3D-printed, microfluidic actuator devices made of these materials. These advanced actuator designs will then be thoroughly analysed for their ability to mimic complex muscular schemes. This ambitious, multidisciplinary project that brings together various aspects of molecular and polymer chemistry, condensed matter physics, mechanical engineering and advanced manufacturing, will enable a new departure in my career and a significant leap forward in the state-of-the-art that shall expedite the societal exploitation of these novel, molecule-based actuator technologies.
Champ scientifique
- natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physics
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaeronautical engineering
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringrobotics
Programme(s)
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
ERC-ADG - Advanced GrantInstitution d’accueil
75794 Paris
France