The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also
describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods
for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical
and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least
two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain
is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive
polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to
prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion
for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the
rolled electroactive polymer device.
