Smart skins capable of on-demand dynamic texture morphing are attractive for several applications, ranging from haptic feedback devices to drag control in aerial or underwater vehicles.
In this study, we produce a new type of stretchable skin based on electromechanical digital texture voxels (DTVs) to emulate the 3D morphing display of cephalopods papillae.
A standard prototype for artificial skin is a combination of twisted polymer fishing line and thin copper wire. Fishing line stores potential energy during the twisting process, and copper wire heats up the fishing line to excert force on both ends. We made a spiral shaped artificial muscle with annealing process, such that it stands up if voltage applied, while remaining flat when no voltage applied.
Our device consists of 25 such "coils", each controlled by a digital output from a micro controller. Desired pattern could be programmed into the controller for display.
