ACTUATOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PLANAR ELECTRODE SUPPORT FOR ACTUATOR

摘要

An actuator as a drive source of a robot assisting housekeeping, work or nurse in which the drive source itself is small, lightweight, flexible and safe, and a method for manufacturing its planar electrode support. The actuator comprises an electrolytic layer (4) interposed between an electrode (1) provided with a conductive polymer layer (3) and a counter electrode (2) and in contact with the conductive polymer layer and causes the conductive polymer layer to expand/contract by applying an electric field between both electrodes. The electrode provided with the conductive polymer layer is a planar electrode so patterned as to exhibit a low rigidity in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the expanding/contracting direction of the conductive polymer layer.