Spatially addressable nanovoided polymers

A device comprising:

• a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface;
• a first plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface, wherein the first plurality of electrodes comprises a first electrode;
• a second electrode disposed on the second surface, wherein the nanovoided polymer element is located at least in part between the first plurality of electrodes and the second electrode;
• and
• a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
• apply different voltages to each electrode of the first plurality of electrodes to obtain a spatially varying deformation of the first surface of the nanovoided polymer element;
• and
• determine an electrical capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode to determine a deformation parameter of the spatially varying deformation.

A method comprising:

• applying electrical signals to a plurality of electrodes of an electroactive device comprising a nanovoided polymer element having a first surface and a second surface to obtain a surface deformation of the electroactive device, wherein:
• the electroactive device comprises the plurality of electrodes disposed on the first surface and a second electrode disposed on the second surface;
• and
• applying electrical signals comprises applying different voltages to each electrode of the plurality of electrodes using a control circuit to obtain a spatially varying deformation of the first surface of the nanovoided polymer element.