Starbug is a new concept for a robotic positioning system able to deploy many payloads, such as pickoff optics, optical fibres, integral field units over the focal surface of a telescope. Aimed at addressing some of the weakness of current positioning systems, Starbug employs micro-robotic actuators to independently and simultaneously position multiple small payloads accurately on an arbitraril...

This chapter demonstrates the use of anti-windup compensation in the control loop of a micro-actuator which is nominally controlled by a linear, discrete robust controller. The micro-actuator is part of a hard disk drive dual-stage servo-control system for positioning of the read/write head. The actuator inputs are constrained to retain the micro-actuator’s displacement range of less than 0.4 μ...

The work carried out in this article essentially relates to the application of a synergetic control piezoelectric positioning mechanism or actuator (PEA). A LuGre model has been followed, capturing most physical phenomena, order be able follow realistic and representative possible. From model, which is then identified by particle swarm optimization (PSO), we apply technique, very efficient meth...

Micro system technology is a relatively new scientific research that deals with the development and study of properties of materials in micro dimensions. Micro-grippers are widely used in switching, positioning, and assembling micron sized components in micro-robotics. In this study, the static and dynamic behavior of visco-elastic Micro-Tweezers under the thermal and electrostatic field is...

A novel microactuated micro-XYZ stage with large travel distance and fine positioning capability has been demonstrated using the surface-micromachming technology. The micro-XYZ stage consists of three inplane translation stages driven by integrated scratch drive actuators. Two vertically stacked 45" micromirrors in orthogonal directions are employed to achieve vertical beam adjustment without u...

Adhesive forces become predominant in the micro world comparing to the gravity effect implying the development of new micro manipulation strategies. This paper presents the design and conception of a gripper that use the inertial principle for the release (applying a high acceleration, in the order of 10’000g) and the adhesion for catching a micro part of 50μm with the goal of precisely control...

In this paper, we describe the newly developed flexible micro processing system assisted by 1 inch size robots in the scanning electron microscope. After showing the overall system, the basic performances of the small robot that is composed of piezo elements and electromagnets are presented and then the magnetic shield property is considered to prevent the SEM image distortion due to magnetic f...

Precise sample stage positioning plays an important role for various FIB (Focused Ion Beam) and SEM (scanning electron microscope) applications in microand nanotechnology. During the last few years, FIB instruments have become an indispensable tool for sample preparation, prototyping and micro-machining. Modern FIB devices are equipped with an additional electron column. Such combined SEM/FIB d...

The concept of country branding – and its core guiding principle of positioning – triggers interest among politicians, policy-makers, businesses, and consumers. Increasing understanding of the most effective country positioning (or repositioning) practices can be especially valuable for countries with long-lasting suboptimal images. This article contributes to the country branding literature in...