Excitation of Looped Bistable Bands for High-Speed Linear Actuation

Abstract

Soft robotics increasingly relies on smart materials and innovative structures, with bistable tape springs emerging as a promising option. These structures exhibit intriguing dynamic behaviors, such as oscillation, due to their inherent bistability. This paper explores the high-speed linear amplification of motion achieved through the excitation of a looped bistable tape spring. When looped, the tape spring forms two distinct joints, facilitating smooth oscillation. Mounted on a linear guide and driven by a crank mechanism with varying frequency, the system converts input oscillations into amplified linear motion at resonance. This study highlights the potential of bistable tape springs high speed reciprocating linear motion.