CHAPTER 9: Multi-Tool Devices Mimicking Brain–Organ Intercommunication

Each device described in Chapter 8 was developed from one of the reaction-driven composition-dependent properties of the conducting polymer electrodes. Here, the fact that all these properties change simultaneously, driven by the reaction, is reconsidered. A new technological world can be announced: in a physically uniform device, different tools (two, three, four, etc.) can work simultaneously, driven by the same reaction. In this regard, only biological devices and functions present some similarities. Proprioception (up until now considered a psychological property) based on haptic muscles (dual sensors and motors) was selected as an inspiring function. Artificial muscles are faradaic polymeric motors, the relative position and movement rate of which are under linear control of the driving charge and current that sense, by themselves, while working the mechanical, thermal, chemical or electrical working conditions. A new version of Le Châtelier's principle, which can be applied to reactions and reactive devices (Otero's principle), is presented. Based on the electrochemical, polymeric and mechanical principles, a simple equation describing artificial proprioception is attained. Experimental and theoretical results for the different two-tool devices are presented, including for muscle-mechanical sensors, muscle-thermal sensors, muscle-chemical sensors and muscle-electrical sensors.