3D-Printable Artificial Muscles Based on Microfluidic Microcapacitors

A microcapacitor array for providing artificial muscles, the microcapacitor array comprising:

• a dielectric body with at least eight electrode chambers;
• at least four positive electrodes in at least four positive chambers of the at least eight electrode chambers, the at least four positive electrodes being connected by a first plurality of channels in the dielectric frame;
• at least four negative electrodes in at least four negative chambers of the at least eight electrode chambers, the at least four negative electrodes being connected by a second plurality of channels in the dielectric frame;
• a first grouping of chambers, wherein at least two positive chambers are arranged within the first longitudinal area in a first plane and at least two negative chambers are arranged in a second plane within the first grouping of chambers, and wherein the first and second planes are substantially parallel;
• and
• a second grouping of chambers, wherein at least two positive chambers and at least two negative chambers are arranged within the first and second planes so that all adjacent chambers in the second grouping of chambers have opposite polarity;
• wherein the first and second plurality of channels are arranged such that application of a voltage differential between the at least four positive electrodes and the at least four negative electrodes generates an attractive force between each set of adjacent positive and negative electrodes.