A hands-on paradigm for EAP education: undergraduates, pre-college students, and beyond

Xiaobo Tan; Drew Kim; Erik Goodman; Mohsen Shahinpoor

doi:10.1117/12.715724

5 April 2007 A hands-on paradigm for EAP education: undergraduates, pre-college students, and beyond

Xiaobo Tan, Drew Kim, Erik Goodman, Mohsen Shahinpoor

Proceedings Volume 6524, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2007; 652404 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.715724
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) are receiving increasing interest from researchers due to their unique capabilities and numerous potential applications in biomimetic robots, smart structures, biomedical devices, and micro/nanomanipulation. Since these materials are relatively new, it is imperative to educate students and the general public to raise their awareness of EAP potentials and produce the talent pool needed for continuing, rapid advances in the field of EAPs. In this paper we describe our concerted effort in teaching EAP to undergraduates, grade school students, and the general public, through hands-on research and learning on EAP-based biomimetic robots. Two integrated activities are highlighted: A senior Capstone design program on EAP robots, and the subsequent programs that use these developed robots to reach out to pre-college students. A robotic fish and a sociable robot enabled by ionic polymer-metal composite materials are used as examples throughout the paper.

Citation Download Citation

Xiaobo Tan, Drew Kim, Erik Goodman, and Mohsen Shahinpoor "A hands-on paradigm for EAP education: undergraduates, pre-college students, and beyond", Proc. SPIE 6524, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2007, 652404 (5 April 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.715724

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available