Print Email Facebook Twitter A single-input state-switching building block harnessing internal instabilities Title A single-input state-switching building block harnessing internal instabilities Author ten Wolde, M.A. (TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design) Farhadi Machekposhti, D. (TU Delft Mechatronic Systems Design) Date 2024 Abstract Bistable mechanisms are prevalent across a broad spectrum of applications due to their ability to maintain two distinct stable states. Their energy consumption is predominantly confined to the process of state transitions, thereby enhancing their efficiency. However, the transition often requires two distinct digital inputs, implicating the requirement of multiple actuators. Here, we propose an elastic and contactless design strategy for inducing state transitions in bistable mechanisms, requiring only a single digital input. The strategy leverages internal information, interpreted as system state, as an extra input to make a weighted decision for transitioning to the subsequent state. We characterize the behavior using a spring-based rigid-body model, consisting of a column near bifurcation, combined with a non-linear spring connected to a bistable element that represents the information state. The results show that a nonlinear spring with a quadratic stiffness function, i.e., representing internal instability, is crucial for regulating state-switching behavior. We then demonstrate this design strategy by developing a monolithic and compliant design embodiment and experimentally evaluate its behavior. Subject Bistable mechanismCompliant mechanismElastic instabilityMechanical computingState switching To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:f5b485d0-7b70-494a-82ac-699a13128b48 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2024.105626 ISSN 0094-114X Source Mechanism and Machine Theory, 196 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2024 M.A. ten Wolde, D. Farhadi Machekposhti Files PDF 1-s2.0-S0094114X24000533-main.pdf 2.29 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:f5b485d0-7b70-494a-82ac-699a13128b48/datastream/OBJ/view