Here we describe the development of a water-responsive polymer film. Combining both a rigid matrix (polypyrrole) and a dynamic network (polyol-borate), strong and flexible polymer films were developed that can exchange water with the environment to induce film expansion and contraction, resulting in rapid and continuous locomotion. The film actuator can generate contractile stress up to 27 mega...

Smart material actuators like Piezoelectric(PZT) are widely used in Micro/Nano manipulators, but their hysteresis behaviors are complex and difficult to model. Most hysteresis models are based on elementary quasistatic operators and are not suitable for modeling ratedependent or thermal-drift behaviors of the actuators. This work proposes a Preisach model based neurodynamic optimization model t...

In this study, we present a biological micro-electromechanical system and its application to the chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Actuated by an electromagnetic force, the micro cell exciter was designed to deliver a cyclic compressive load (CCL) with various magnitudes. Two major parts in the system are an actuator and a cartridge-type c...

This paper presents the development of a piezoelectric artificial cochlea (PAC) device capable of analyzing vibratory signal inputs and converting them into electrical signal outputs without an external power source by mimicking the function of human cochlea within an audible frequency range. The PAC consists of an artificial basilar membrane (ABM) part and an implantable packaged part. The pac...

This paper describes insect type micro robots controlled by a CMOS IC of hardware neural networks. The micro robot is fabricated by the micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) technology using a silicon wafer, and the actuator is composed of artificial muscle wires on the basis of shape memory alloy. Insect-like walking is achieved by link mechanisms that transform the actuator’s rotational mot...

In this paper, model-based precision force and position control of an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) is presented. A 23.8 mm×3.4 mm×0.16 mm IPMC strip was used as an actuator in a cantilever configuration. Open-loop force and position responses of an IPMC are not repeatable, and hence closed-loop precision control is of critical importance to ensure proper functioning, repeatability and r...

In this paper, we report the hexapod type micro robot controlled by the neural networks. MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) technology that based on the semiconductor process is used for fabrication of the microrobot. The rotational actuator is composed of four artificial muscle wires that is family of SMA (shape memory alloy). The power type bare chip IC is used for neural networks control...

Piezoelectric actuators are widely used for precise micro-positioning. In most applications, there is contact with the environment. Sensing external forces is a challenging problem in controlling mechanical systems, especially in micro scales. The external force could cause dual hysteresis non-linearity effects, which will disrupt the actuator positioning accuracy. Therefore, an effective contr...

Based on the superiority of piezoelectric elements, including lightweight, high electric mechanical transformation efficiency and a quick response time, piezoelectric-based micro-positioning actuator is developed in this investigation. For eliminating effects hysteresis modeling uncertainties that appeared actuator, nonlinear adaptive fuzzy robust control design with perturbation cancellation a...