VOLTAGE CONTROLLER FOR ACTUATOR USING DIELECTRIC

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide means for implementing an actuator using a dielectric which does not require a voltage generator having excessive power supply ability and shows stable performance even after long-time nonuse.SOLUTION: Voltage control means 124 determines whether or not processing of initializing a dielectric polymer 113 is necessary on the basis of history data showing applied voltage and current and time in a voltage generator 121 most recently applying voltage to the dielectric polymer 113 and stable operation characteristic data showing relation between applied voltage and current of the dielectric polymer 113 in a stable operation state. When it is determined that the initialization processing is necessary, the voltage control means 124 instructs the voltage generator 121 to intermittently apply voltage increasing with the lapse of time to the dielectric polymer 113. When the voltage generator 121 applies voltage to the dielectric polymer 113 according to the instruction, the dielectric polymer 113 in an unstable operation state shifts into a stable operation state.