ME 63 designed and fabricated a test rig that allows researchers to evaluate the performance and reliability of potential dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) materials. DEGs are electroactive polymers that enable energy harvesting for devices like wearable sensors and underwater soft robots for deep sea exploration. The system incorporates a piston-cylinder assembly driven by a linear actuator-motor system to apply controlled bi-axial mechanical deformation. A circular DEG is repeatedly inflated and deflated over hundreds of cycles to harvest energy. DEG membranes are secured in a novel clamping mechanism designed for ease of use and reliability. A custom user interface enables users to easily define test parameters such as desired deformation and frequency. An optimized calibration tool ensures consistent and accurate results. Electrical priming and high-voltage (1> kV) energy storage in a capacitor are managed by electronics designed by the joint ECE team (2627).

Our team collaborated with Electrical and Computer Engineering 27 on this project.