This work addresses the design of an active multi-link micro-catheter actuated by Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) micro actuators. This may be a response to one medical major demand on such devices, which will be useful for surgical explorations and interventions. In this paper, we focus on a training and design simulator dedicated to such catheters. This simulator is based on an original simulation p...

This paper presents the results from an experimental study on the actuation response of composite laminates containing Shape-Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators. Unidirectional glassfibre reinforced epoxide laminates were constructed containing Ni-Ti SMA actuators orientated parallel to the glass-fibre direction. The volume fraction of actuator was varied in the range 0 to 2.5 ~ 0 1 % . These laminate...

Our work addresses on the global design of an active multi-link micro-catheter, provided with Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) micro actuators, which is developed in collaboration with the Laboratoire de Robotique de Paris. This constitutes our response to one medical major demand on such devices which will be usefull for surgical explorations and interventions. In this paper, we focus on simulation an...

Noise from commercial high-bypass ratio turbofan engines is generated by turbulent mixing of the hot jet exhaust, fan stream, and ambient air. Serrated aerodynamic devices, known as chevrons, along the trailing edges of a jet engine primary and secondary exhaust nozzle have been shown to reduce jet noise at takeoff and shock-cell noise at cruise conditions. Their optimum shape is a finely tuned...

Application of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators is limited to low frequencies due to slow cooling time especially in the embedded conditions where heat transfer rate is the controlling factor. In this study, we investigate various active cooling techniques and effect of pre-stress to improve the response time of two commercially available SMAs: Flexinol from Dynalloy Inc. and Biometal fiber f...

The paper presents the design phase of the actuators control system development for a morphing wing application. Some smart materials, like Shape Memory Alloy (SMA), are used as actuators to modify the upper surface of the wing made of a flexible skin. The actuations lines control is designed and validated using a numerical simulation model developed in Matlab/Simulink. The finally adopted cont...

A biped mountable robotic baby head was developed using a combination of Biometal fiber and Flexinol shape memory alloy actuators (SMAs). SMAs were embedded in the skull and connected to the elastomeric skin at control points. An engineered architecture of the skull was fabricated, which incorporates all the SMA wires with 35 routine pulleys, two firewire complementary metal-oxide semiconductor...

Inspired by its simple musculature, actuation and motion mechanisms, we have developed a small crawling robot that closely mimics the model organism of our choice: Caenorhabditis elegans. A thermal shape memory alloy (SMA) was selected as an actuator due to the similarities of its properties to C. elegans muscles. Based on the anatomy of C. elegans, a 12-unit robot was designed to generate a si...