In this paper, we study optimal actuator location of the minimum norm controls for a multi-dimensional heat equation with control defined in the space L2( × (0, T )). The actuator domain is time-varying in the sense that it is only required to have a prescribed Lebesgue measure for any moment. We select an optimal actuator location so that the optimal control takes its minimal norm over all pos...

Soft robotic systems generally require both soft actuators and soft sensors to perform complex functions. Separate actuators and sensors are often combined into one composite device when proprioception (self-sensing) is required. In this article, we introduce the concept of using a conductive liquid to perform both the sensing and actuation functions of a proprioceptive soft actuator. The worki...

We have developed a newly designed non-explosive release actuator that can replace currently used release devices. The release mechanism is based on a separation mechanism, which relies on segmented nuts and a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire trigger. A quite fast and simple trigger operation is made possible through the use of SMA wire. This actuator is designed to allow a high preload with low l...

For various reasons as discussed for instance in [1], the selection of actuator and sensor positions is still ad hoc. This is especially true for exible structures where many candidate con gurations can exist. This study is an attempt to make the selection process more methodical. One approach to actuator and sensor placement is to optimize a closed loop performance metric directly by selecting...

In this article, auctions are used to improve the recent information mesh (iMesh) based distance sensitive service discovery in the wireless sensor and actuator networks (WSANs), thus improving overall energy efficiency and lifetime of the network. An event that needs a single actuator response is sensed by one of the sensors, which then performs the search for the closest actuator to respond b...

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are a promising soft actuator technology for robotics. Adding robotic functionalities—folding, variable stiffness, and adhesion—into their actuator design is a novel method to create functionalized robots with simplified actuator configurations. We first propose a foldable actuator that has a simple antagonistic DEA configuration allowing bidirectional actu...

To design fault tolerant control systems (FTCS), one of the important issues to consider is whether to recover the original system performance/functionality completely or to accept some degree of performance degradation after occurrence of a fault. What are the consequences if the performance degradation is not taken into consideration and how to take such performance degradation into account i...

A control system for a piezoelectric beam actuator, which had one or two inputs, was subject of numerical and laboratory research. The actuator prismatic shape with rectangular cross-section consisted layer carrying substrate made from PCB-FR4 patches Macro Fiber Composite P1 type. MFC were glued on both sides the substrate. An article presents comparison quality signal (one-input actuator) sig...

A fuzzy logic based digital sinusoidal acceleration waveform amplitude controller for a PC based electrodynamic vibration actuator is presented. The fuzzy logic control (FLC) purpose is to reproduce pre-defined sinusoidal acceleration amplitude at the vibration table of a vibration actuator system. Sinusoid vibration profiles (sine and linear sine sweep) are considered for a closed-loop control...