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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Basic recent results, properties and characteristics of ionic polymer conductor nano-composites (IPCNC) as biomimetic distributed nanosensors, nanoactuators and artificial muscles are briefly discussed in this paper. Some fundamental considerations on biomimetic distributed nanosensing and nanoactuation are first presented and then expanded to cover some recent advances in manufacturing techniques, force optimization, 3-D fabrication of IPMC's, recent modeling and simulations, sensing and transduction and product development. This paper also covers some recent industrial and medical applications including a multi-fingered grippers (macro, micro, nano), biomimetic robotic fish and caudal fin actuators, diaphragm micropump, multi-string musical instruments, linear actuators made with IPMNC's, IPMNC-based data glove and attire, IPMNC-based heart compression/assist devices and systems, wing flapping flying system made with IPMNC's and a host of others.