title: Buckling of Elastomeric Beams Enables Actuation of Soft Machines.
abstract: Soft, pneumatic actuators that buckle when interior pressure is less than exterior provide a new mechanism of actuation. Upon application of negative pneumatic pressure, elastic beam elements in these actuators undergo reversible, cooperative collapse, and generate a rotational motion. These actuators are inexpensive to fabricate, lightweight, easy to control, and safe to operate. They can be used in devices that manipulate objects, locomote, or interact cooperatively with humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Dian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Harvard University, 60 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Bobak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mosadegh
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Alar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ainla
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khashai
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Kavli Institute for Bionano Science & Technology Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Kavli Institute for Bionano Science & Technology Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bertoldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering Harvard University, 60 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.|Kavli Institute for Bionano Science & Technology Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Whitesides
mesh_terms: D020724:Elastomers; D009068:Movement; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D012371:Robotics
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers; D011108:Polymers; C036925:elastomeric polymer
keywords: buckling; pneumatic actuation; rotary motion; soft actuators; soft machines