论文标题
高能密度3D打印复合弹簧，用于轻质和能节能的机器人
High-energy-density 3D-printed Composite Springs for Lightweight and Energy-efficient Compliant Robots
论文作者
论文摘要
弹簧存储的机械能类似于存储电能的电池。但是，传统的弹簧相对于电池而言，机械能量有限，即它们的质量能密度较低。下一代3D打印技术可能有可能使制造具有高能源存储容量的低成本轻质弹簧。在这里，我们提出了使用结构优化的高能量密度3D印刷扭转弹簧的新颖设计。通过优化弹簧的内部结构，与均匀厚度的扭转螺旋弹簧相比，质量能密度增加了45％。我们的结果表明，最佳设计的3D打印弹簧可以使机器人能够回收单位质量的机械能，从而有可能减少控制机器人所需的能量。
Springs store mechanical energy similar to batteries storing electrical energy. However, conventional springs are heavy and store limited amounts of mechanical energy relative to batteries, i.e they have low mass-energy-density. Next-generation 3D printing technology could potentially enable manufacturing low cost lightweight springs with high energy storage capacity. Here we present a novel design of a high-energy-density 3D printed torsional spiral spring using structural optimization. By optimizing the internal structure of the spring we obtained a 45% increase in the mass energy density, compared to a torsional spiral spring of uniform thickness. Our result suggests that optimally designed 3D printed springs could enable robots to recycle more mechanical energy per unit mass, potentially reducing the energy required to control robots.
