<title>Electroactive polymer actuators and devices</title>

The application of electroactive polymers (EAP) for mechanical actuation is discussed. A comparison is made between established actuation technologies and polymer actuators. In addition, mammalian muscle properties are compared to some of the observed polymer actuation properties. This paper attempts to analyze actuator performance metrics, as set for current technologies, to determine the feasibility of electroactive polymer actuators in various applications. In this analysis, different mechanical design approaches are reviewed for possible use in EAP actuator applications. Examples of EAP microactuators are presented.