title: A prototype of a novel energy efficient variable stiffness actuator.
abstract: In this work, we present a proof of concept of a novel variable stiffness actuator. The actuator design is based on the conceptual design proposed in earlier work, and is such that the apparent output stiffness of the actuator can be changed independently of the output position and without any energy cost. Experimental results show that the behavior of the prototype is in accordance with the theoretical results of the conceptual design, and thus show that energy efficient variable stiffness actuators can be realized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. l.c.visser@utwente.nl
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carloni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klijnstra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stramigioli
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009038:Motion; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014159:Transducers