Variable stiffening device comprising electrode stacks in a flexible envelope

A variable stiffening device comprising:

• an envelope comprising a plurality of fluid chambers each fluidically separate from one another by one or more divider portions;
• a dielectric fluid housed within the plurality of fluid chambers;
• and
• a plurality of electrode stacks each comprising a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of connective strips;
• wherein:
• the plurality of electrodes comprise one or more positive electrodes and one or more negative electrodes stacked in an alternating arrangement;
• and
• an individual connective strip is positioned between each pair of adjacent electrodes of each of the plurality of electrode stacks.

A method of actuating a variable stiffening device, the method comprising:

• generating voltage using a voltage source electrically coupled to an electrode stack of the variable stiffening device, the variable stiffening device further comprising an envelope that comprises a fluid chamber;
• wherein:
• the electrode stack comprises a plurality of electrodes;
• and
• the electrode stack is housed within the fluid chamber together with a dielectric fluid, the dielectric fluid is in contact with a surface of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the surface facing an adjacent electrode of the plurality of electrodes;
• and
• applying voltage generated by the voltage source to the electrode stack, thereby electrostatically drawing adjacent electrodes together to actuate the variable stiffening device from a relaxed state to a rigid state.