Ultra-thin inertial actuator

An inertial actuator includes an electro-active polymer EAP actuator, a substrate, and one or more mass elements. The EAP actuator includes at least one EAP layer located between a pair of driving electrodes. The EAP actuator may include a multilayer stack of alternating EAP layers and electrode layers. The EAP actuator is attached to the substrate (e.g., a flexible polymer substrate), which may be held under tension by attachment points at the periphery of the substrate, at the ends of a beam-type substrate, or the edges of a membrane-type actuator. The EMP actuator induces vibrations in the substrate. One or more mass elements (e.g., metal films) may also be supported by the substrate to enhance the resonator response.