Soft Pocket Pump for Multi‐Medium Transportation via an Active Tubular Diaphragm

Abstract

Recent developments in small and agile multifunctional autonomous robots, portable and wearable drug delivery devices, and implantable ventricular assist devices have increased the demands for a new class of small and soft pumps that can conform to irregular or even deformable robotic bodies or human organs. In this work, a dual‐chamber pocket‐sized pump with a tubular diaphragm made of multilayered silicone dielectric elastomer actuators, three miniature check valves, and an outer shell is proposed. Dielectric elastomer actuators diaphragm holds well dynamic performances that resonate at 230 Hz, which leads to a no‐load flow rate of 340 mL min⁻¹ and back pressure of 7.5 kPa, with the pump's total volume as only 2.36 cm³ and weight as 2.4 g. Besides, the proposed pump can be bent up to 60° with a negligible drop in its pressure and flow rate. The pump's capability to pump air, water, and its seamless switch is demonstrated. By tuning the amplitude of the driving voltage, the pump's pressure can be precisely controlled. This highly flexible and compact pump can be a potential candidate for driving small robots and biomedical devices.