Space applications for ionic polymer-metal composite sensors, actuators, and artificial muscles

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) are composites of a noble metal, conductive polymer or carbon/graphite, and charged polyelectrolyte membrane. IPMCs have shown considerable progress in producing actuation in electric fields. These composites are also capable of sensing motion by producing a voltage difference when bent by a mechanical force. Work to date has yielded a force greater than 40 times the weight of an IPMC and large bending displacements with very low-input voltages.There is sufficient reason to believe that artificial muscles with viable strength can be produced with these composites. The IPMC, in addition to being resilient and elastic, is also lightweight and has a reaction speed that ranges from 1 microsecond to 1 second. For space missions, devices based on IPMCs will have numerous applications. On planetary surfaces, robotic arms and end effectors, motion-producing motors, actuators, and controllers are just a few examples of devices that can be produced using IPMCs. In this paper, examples of various envisioned space applications of IPMCs will be provided. The impacts of these applications on future space missions will also be discussed.