Darrin C. Bentivegna

Mechanical implementation of a variable-stiffness actuator for a softly strummed ukulele

This research illustrates the design, implementation, and evaluation of pneumatic variable-stiffness actuator (VSA) used to strum a four-stringed ukulele with audio variability. A guitar pick is antagonistically loaded with two inflatable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) actuators, allowing for the indep…