In recent years, the Preisach hysteresis model has emerged as the model of choice for the behaviour of many smart materials, such as shape memory alloys (SMA). This research treats the identiication of Preisach models for a diierential SMA actuator. The traditional identiication technique is applied, and several models are derived for the actuator. It is seen that the classical Preisach model i...

A lternatives to traditional actuators, such as electromagnetic motors, are needed in applications where space and weight are limited, e.g., laparoscopic medical probes, miniature robotics, and micro-lens positioning systems. We present a family of small lightweight actuators that can be composed out of a basic unit cell to yield linear, rotational, and surface actuation. The unit cell actuator...

Alternatives to traditional actuators such as electromagnetic motors are needed in applications where space and weight are limited, for example, laparoscopic medical probes, miniature robotics, and micro-lens positioning systems. We present a family of small light-weight actuators that can be composed out of a basic unit-cell to yield linear, rotational, and surface actuation. The unit-cell act...

In this paper, the non-linear dynamics of a new Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator that possesses impressive payload lifting capabilities are presented. This actuator consists of 48 SMA wires mechanically bundled in parallel forming one powerful muscle. It was designed to lift up to 45.4 kg (100 lbs.), which is approximately 300 times its weight. This SMA actuator was tested in open loop experim...

Shape memory alloy offer an interesting solution, using the shape transformation of the wire/structure in the moment of applying a thermal type transformation able to offer the martensitic temperature. In order to assure an efficient control of SMA actuator applied to inverted pendulum, a mathematical model and numerical simulation of the resulting model is required. Due a particular possibilit...

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are good candidates to actuate endoscope heads but the cooling problem must be solved particularly in confined situations. For these reasons, a new SMA microactuator specially designed for active endoscopy applications has been developed in our laboratory. This work is a new step in the approach of using integrated thermoelectric cooling with SMA actuators. In fact, th...

Shape memory alloy (SMA) thin films, especially those based on Ni-Ti, have received considerable attention since it was demonstrated that they can undergo a nearly perfect shape memory effect [1-7]. When SMA films are used as actuators in MEMS devices, biasing springs are generally needed to restore the initial state in order to achieve a twoway shape memory effect. As a result, use of SMA actu...

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...