Unmanned Mother-Submarine Key Technology

구조배터리 기반 초고효율 감시정찰 자율비행로봇 개발

Submarine Structure
Study 1: Exploded and Assembled Views of the Battery Module

Situation

  • Demand for lightweight, micro-sized actuators in robotics and aerospace.
  • SMP (Shape Memory Polymer): High strain (400%+) but poor mechanical properties and recovery force.
    • Carbon fiber reinforcement improves driving force but reduces deformation capacity.

Task

  • Development of SMPC (Shape Memory Polymer Composite): Autonomous bidirectional actuation mechanism without external loads.

Action

  • Integration of SMPC and elastomers for autonomous bidirectional movement.
    • Multi-Neutral Axis (MNA) Design: Lamination of soft (PDMS/ePEI) and rigid (SMPC) materials to minimize axial strain.
    • Deployable Core Integration: Sandwich structure adoption to maximize recovery moment.

Result

  • World-Class Performance: Achieved recovery moment of 51.2 N·m/m (Width-normalized).
  • Extreme Flexibility: Minimum bending radius of 15 mm reached.
  • Two-way Actuation: Successful repetitive motion

Project Information

  • Project Name: A Study on the Improvement of Actuating System Performance by Machine Learning based Process Optimization in Manufacturing of Shape Memory Polymer Composite/Elastomer hybrid
  • Category: Aerospace
  • Client: National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) & Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)
  • Project Date: 2020.03 - 2024.07
  • Software Stack: ABAQUS, Matlab, Python
Achievements
PAPER ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 15, 28, 33944–33956, 2023 (Cover Article)
Improving the Deformability and Recovery Moment of Shape Memory Polymer Composites for Bending Actuators: Multiple Neutral Axis Skins and Deployable Core
PATENT KR 10-2021-0111482 (Filed Aug 24, 2021)
SMPC bending actuator of sandwich structure with deployable core