Development of a vacuum suction cup by applying magnetorheological elastomers for objects with flat surfaces

Peizhi Zhang, Mitsuhiro Kamezaki, Kenshiro Otsuki, Zhuoyi He, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Shigeki Sugano

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, we present a suction cup by applying magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) that can be used for the wall climbing robot and picking application. MRE is a smart material in which the ferromagnetic particles are dispersed in the elastomer. In conventional research, MREs are often used as a vibration absorber, since the physical or mechanical properties can be altered upon the application of a magnetic field. In this paper, we focus on the expansion of the use of MRE material. When the magnetic field is added, the MRE will be attracted to the magnetic generator due to the ferromagnetic particles inside. The basic mathematical model between magnetic force and elasticity is discussed by us, which supports the working principle of building MRE suction cup. The MRE suction cup contains a permanent magnetic field generator unit and a MRE membrane unit. A servo motor is used to control the ON/OFF of the magnetic generator, so that the MRE membrane can be activated and deactivated. In this prototype, we focus on picking objects with flat surfaces as the first attempt. The proposed suction cup can achieve appropriate suction force, low noise, energy-saving. In this paper, the operation method of MREs, the design of the suction cup, and the evaluation of the prototype are conducted.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2020 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, AIM 2020
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages777-782
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781728167947
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020 Jul
Event2020 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, AIM 2020 - Boston, United States
Duration: 2020 Jul 62020 Jul 9

Publication series

NameIEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, AIM
Volume2020-July

Conference

Conference2020 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, AIM 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston
Period20/7/620/7/9

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Software

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Development of a vacuum suction cup by applying magnetorheological elastomers for objects with flat surfaces'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this