Final Thesis
Testing the actuation with high voltage electricity and material properties of the membranes at the same time. Membranes appear to be very sensitive to voltage above 4kV. They tend to damage quite easily. Actuation usually starts around 1.3 / 1.5 kV. Discharging capacitor and converter is done manually, via bleeder resistors board. Capacitor should store [...]
Testing the actuation of the polymer film. Materials and electronics: VHB polymer film, conductive graphite powder, acrylic glass, high voltage converter, variable power supply, cables.
Testing the elasticity of VHB polymer film membranes attached to the planar surface. This method could be applied to the system of polymer actuators inside the final object prototype.
By applying the attraction-repulsion code from the Nature of Code publication by Daniel Shiffman, I try to simulate the possible behavior of the fire ant colony when exposed to the electric fields. Six attractors represent six capacitors forming the electric field. When voltage is applied, electric field of each capacitor starts to attract the ants. [...]
Ant image: Alexander Wild There is an interesting phenomenon in the nature. Certain species of ants are attracted to the electric fields created by the high voltage devices. They tend to build nests close to the high voltage switch boxes, invade the electrical equipment, short out electronic gadgets, cut through the metal wires. No one [...]