A method, comprising: - fixing an electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state, wherein the electro-active polymer film has been pre-stretched in at least one planar stretch direction; wherein the fixing is at least one of: i) attaching: 1) at least one first semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) at least one second semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; wherein the at least one first and the at least one second semi-stiff conductors are configured to: a) fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state to form a fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film and b) allow the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; or ii) attaching: 1) at least one stretchable conductor to at least one surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) attaching the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to a solid mechanism that fixes the film in a pre-stretched state in a single axis while allowing it to expand and be wrapped around a solid body on the other axis to form the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film; and - coupling a pair of mechanical connectors at each end of at least one active region of the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film. - fixing an electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state, wherein the electro-active polymer film has been pre-stretched in at least one planar stretch direction; wherein the fixing is at least one of: i) attaching: 1) at least one first semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) at least one second semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; wherein the at least one first and the at least one second semi-stiff conductors are configured to: a) fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state to form a fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film and b) allow the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; or ii) attaching: 1) at least one stretchable conductor to at least one surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) attaching the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to a solid mechanism that fixes the film in a pre-stretched state in a single axis while allowing it to expand and be wrapped around a solid body on the other axis to form the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film; and i) attaching: 1) at least one first semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) at least one second semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; wherein the at least one first and the at least one second semi-stiff conductors are configured to: a) fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state to form a fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film and b) allow the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; or 1) at least one first semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a first surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) at least one second semi-stiff conductor which is a stretchable conductor or a rigid conductor in an expanded pattern to a second surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; a) fix the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film in a pre-stretched state to form a fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film and b) allow the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to expand; or ii) attaching: 1) at least one stretchable conductor to at least one surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) attaching the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to a solid mechanism that fixes the film in a pre-stretched state in a single axis while allowing it to expand and be wrapped around a solid body on the other axis to form the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film; and 1) at least one stretchable conductor to at least one surface of the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film, and 2) attaching the pre-stretched electro-active polymer film to a solid mechanism that fixes the film in a pre-stretched state in a single axis while allowing it to expand and be wrapped around a solid body on the other axis to form the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film; and - coupling a pair of mechanical connectors at each end of at least one active region of the fixed pre-stretched electro-active polymer film.