Adaptive optical systems incorporate active components that compensate for wavefront aberrations introduced by optical defects. The quality of optical compensation is largely determined by the stroke of the adaptive component’s underlying actuating mechanism. Development of compact polypyrrole trilayer actuator arrays may deliver superior performance over conventional active technologies such as electrostatic electrodes or piezoelectric actuators. This study introduces a novel piston–tilt mirror apparatus that utilizes low-voltage electroactive polymer actuators to reorient a plane mirror. The design of the mirror and its ancillary systems are first reported, followed by the polymer synthesis procedure and actuator fabrication method. Finally, laser beam steering results are provided in the context of an experimental retinal imaging system. The outcomes indicate a promising future for electroactive polymer-enabled devices in adaptive optical systems with technological implications ranging from more powerful astronomical telescopes to improved retinal tissue diagnosis.
AliciG (2009) An effective modelling approach to estimate nonlinear bending behaviour of cantilever type conducting polymer actuators. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical141(1): 284–292.
2.
AliciGHuynhN (2007) Performance quantification of conducting polymer actuators for real applications: a microgripping system. IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics12(1): 73–84.
DobleNWilliamsD (2004) The application of MEMS technology for adaptive optics in vision science. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics10(3): 629–635.
5.
ChoiELiuYSmelaE. (2006) System for deposition and characterization of polypyrrole/gold bilayer hinges. In: Proceedings of IEEE international symposium on circuits and systems, Kos, 21–24 May, pp. 3506–3509. New York: IEEE.
6.
FangYPenceTJTanX (2008a) Nonlinear elastic modeling of differential expansion in trilayer conjugated polymer actuators. Smart Materials and Structures17(6): 065020.
7.
FangYTanXShenY. (2008b) A scalable model for trilayer conjugated polymer actuators and its experimental validation. Materials Science & Engineering C28(3): 421–428.
8.
FicocelliMBen AmaraF (2008) Control system design for retinal imaging adaptive optics systems. In: Proceedings of American control conference, Seattle, WA, 11–13 June, pp. 4779–4784. New York: IEEE.
9.
HaraSZamaTTakashimaW. (2006) Tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide-doped polypyrrole as a conducting polymer actuator with large electrochemical strain. Synthetic Metals156(2–4): 351–355.
10.
HoferHArtalPSingerB. (2001) Dynamics of the eye’s wave aberration. Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics Image Science and Vision18(3): 497–506.
11.
HutchisonASLewisTWMoultonSE. (2000) Development of polypyrrole-based electromechanical actuators. Synthetic Metals113(1): 121–127.
12.
KieferRKilmartinPABowmakerGA. (2007) Actuation of polypyrrole films in propylene carbonate electrolytes. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical125(2): 628–634.
13.
KieferRMandviwallaXArcherR. (2008) The application of polypyrrole trilayer actuators in microfluidics and robotics. In: SPIE electroactive polymer actuators and devices (EAPAD), vol. 6927, San Diego, CA, 10–13 March, paper no. 69271E. Bellingham, WA:SPIE.
14.
LewisTWMoultonSESpinksGM. (1997) Optimisation of a polypyrrole based actuator. Synthetic Metals85(1–3): 1419–1420.
15.
LiangJWilliamsDMillerD (1997) Supernormal vision and high-resolution retinal imaging through adaptive optics. Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics Image Science and Vision14(11): 2884–2892.
16.
LinnellRHUmarS (1955) Aging effects in pyrrole. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics57(1): 264–266.
17.
McGovernSAliciGTruongV-T. (2009) Finding nemo (novel electromaterial muscle oscillator): a polypyrrole powered robotic fish with real-time wireless speed and directional control. Smart Materials and Structures18(9): 095009.
18.
McGovernSSpinksGXiB. (2008) Fast bender actuators for fish-like aquatic robots. In: SPIE electroactive polymer actuators and devices (EAPAD), vol. 6927, San Diego, CA, 10–13 March, paper no. 69271L. Bellingham, WA: SPIE.
19.
OteroTFSansinenaJM (1995) Artificial muscles based on conducting polymers. Bioelectrochemistry and Bioenergetics38(2): 411–414.
20.
PlattBCShackR (2001) History and principles of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing. Journal of Refractive Surgery17(5): S573–S577.
21.
PriceANaguibH (2009) Optimization of porous membrane core morphology for polypyrrole trilayer actuators. In: SPIE electroactive polymer actuators and devices (EAPAD), vol. 7287, San Diego, CA, 9–12 March, paper no. 72871P. Bellingham, WA: SPIE.
22.
PriceANaguibH (2013) A unified multiphysics finite element model of the polypyrrole trilayer actuation mechanism. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures24(5): 548–558.
23.
PriceADGillenTLiuCC. (2011) Evaluation of porous membrane core elasticity and porous morphology for polypyrrole trilayer actuators. Journal of Cellular Plastics48(1): 25–42.
24.
PriceADKaoVCZhangXJ. (2009) Mechanical characterization of porous membrane core morphologies for conductive polymer trilayer actuators. In: Proceedings of CANSMART 2009: 12th international workshop smart materials and structures, Montreal, QC, Canada, 22–23 October, pp. 247–256. Kingston, ON, Canada: Center for Smart Materials and Structures.
25.
PriceADLiuCCO’ShaughnessyCA. (2008) Characterization of conductive polymer trilayer actuators for biomimetic robotics. In: Proceedings of CANSMART 2008: 11th international workshop on smart materials and structures, Montreal, QC, Canada, 23–24 October, pp. 325–334. Kingston, ON, Canada: Center for Smart Materials and Structures.
26.
SadkiSSchottlandPBrodieN. (2000) The mechanisms of pyrrole electropolymerization. Chemical Society Reviews29(5): 283–293.
27.
ShoaTMaddenJDFokC-W.E. (2008) Rate limits in conducting polymers. Advances in Science and Technology61: 26–33.
TysonRK (2000) Introduction to Adaptive Optics. Bellingham, WA: SPIE.
30.
TysonRKFrazierBW (2004) A Field Guide to Adaptive Optics. Bellingham, WA: SPIE.
31.
WangXShapiroBSmelaE (2006) Modeling charge transport in conjugated polymers. In: SPIE smart structures and materials 2006: electroactive polymer actuators and devices (EAPAD), vol. 6168, San Diego, CA, 26 February - 2 March, paper no. 61680U. Bellingham, WA: SPIE.
32.
WuYAliciGSpinksG. (2006) Fast trilayer polypyrrole bending actuators for high speed applications. Synthetic Metals156(16–17): 1017–1022.
33.
ZhuLSunP-CBartschD-U. (1999) Adaptive control of a micromachined continuous-membrane deformable mirror for aberration compensation. Applied Optics38(1): 168–176.
