Finite Element Model of Thermo-Pneumatic Transducers for Wearable Applications

Soft actuators are particularly desirable in the vision of integrating them in wearable platforms. In this work, a finite element model designed for implementing soft flexible actuators is presented, incorporating a novel thermo-pneumatic activation strategy as the transduction mechanism. The simulation results have been validated through comparison with a fabricated prototype, demonstrating the potential to generate forces in the millinewton range using the proposed strategy.