A new diaphragm actuator based on the ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) composite is designed where the FSMA composite is composed of ferromagnetic soft iron and superelastic grade of NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA). The actuation mechanism for the FSMA composite plate of the actuator is the hybrid mechanism that we proposed previously. This diaphragm actuator is the first design toward des...

This paper presents micro self-reconfigurable modular robotic systems using shape memory alloy (SMA). The system is designed so that various shapes can be autonomously formed by a group of identical mechanical units. The unit realizes rotational motion by using an actuator mechanism composed of two SMA torsion coil springs. We have realized micro-size prototype units and examined their fundamen...

A new membrane actuator based on our previous diaphragm actuator was designed and constructed to improve the dynamic performance. The finite element analysis was used to estimate the frequency response of the composite membrane which will be driven close to its resonance to obtain a large stroke. The membrane is made of ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) composite including a ferromagnetic...

In this paper the active control of beam deflection through heating and cooling of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires is examined. A phenomenological constitutive law for SMA wires is coupled with beam theory to provide predictions of beam shape upon temperature change in the SMA actuator. Both the linear and nonlinear beam theory are presented, enabling calculation of large deflections. Examples f...

In this study, a new Braille display is constructed based on the vibration of a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wire. To present Braille information, a vibration actuator is used instead of conventional Braille dots. According to the temperature-dependent characteristic shrinkage and the vest ration to the initial length of an SMA wire, a vibration actuator which can be driven by several [Hz]-100 [Hz]...

Shape memory alloy (SMA) based actuators have a number of attributes which make them useful for robotic applications. Unfortunately their response is relatively slow, being limited by the speed with which the SMA can be heated and cooled. This paper describes two novel developments of the basic SMA actuator which improve dynamic performance. To allow rapid heating of the shape memory alloy wire...

In this paper the design of a biped robot actuated with Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) springs with minimum degrees of freedom is presented. SMA springs are a class of smart materials that are known for their high power to mass and volume ratios. It was shown that utilizing spring type of SMAs have many advantages as large deformation, smooth motion, silent and clean movement compared to ordinary typ...

In order to exhaustively exploit the high-level capabilities of shape memory alloys (SMAs), they must be applied in control systems applications. However, because of their hysteretic inherent, dilatory response, and nonlinear behavior, scientists are thwarted in their attempt to design controllers for actuators of such kind.  The current study aims at developing a micro-position control system ...