Driving device using polymer actuator elements

Disclosed is a more compact, slimmer, and lower-cost driving device which comprises polymer actuator elements exhibiting superior heat-generation control characteristics and which can efficiently warm the polymer actuator elements. The driving device comprises an electrolyte layer, electrode layers provided on both surfaces of the electrolyte layer in the thickness direction, and a polymer actuator element that deforms when a voltage is applied between said electrode layers. When an AC voltage (E) with a higher frequency than drive voltage (C) supplied to the polymer actuator element is superposed on said drive voltage, a drive current flows to the electrode layers and the polymer actuator element is warmed by Joule self-heating.