Toyoda Gosei unveils ‘e-rubber’ for robots

Kiyosu, Japan - Toyoda Gosei Co is exhibiting its “next-generation” ‘e-rubber’ at the second RoboDEX technical exhibition for the robotics industry, to be held at Tokyo Big Sight on 17-19 Jan.

E-Rubber is a rubber material that moves with electricity and mechanical force, explained Toyoda Gosei in an 11 Jan preview announcement.

The automotive supplier is using the material to develop artificial muscles for robots -  the soft actuators offering a new source of motive power to replace electromagnetic motors, tactile/pressure sensors and motion sensors.

The Japanese company envisages practical applications for ‘e-rubber’ in robots for industry, healthcare and other fields to support aging societies.

Central to the innovation is a‘slide-ring material’: a polymer comprising nano-scale‘necklace’ supramolecules, called polyrotaxanes.

The supramolecular structure yields a light-weight materialwith high output, low energy-consumption, quietness, softness, and fast response, said Toyoda Gosei.