Woven Fabric Muscle for Soft Wearable Robotic Application Using Two-Dimensional Zigzag Shape Memory Alloy Actuator

In this study, we propose a fabric muscle based on the Zigzag Shape Memory Alloy (ZSMA) actuator. Soft wearable robots have been gaining attention due to their flexibility and the ability to provide significant power support to the user without hindering their movement and mobility. There has been an increasing focus on the research and development of fabric muscles, which are crucial components of these robots. This article introduces a high-performance fabric muscle utilizing zigzag-shaped shape memory alloy (SMA), ZSMA, a new form of SMA actuator. Through modeling and experimentation of the ZSMA actuator, we identified an optimized actuator design and detailed the fabric muscle fabrication process. The proposed fabric actuator, weighing only 7.5 g, demonstrated the impressive capability to lift a weight of 2 kg with a contraction displacement of 40%. This significant achievement paves the way for future research possibilities in soft wearable robotics.