We apply multivariable control techniques to control the elastic motion of lightweight multibody structures undergoing combined rigid and elastic motion. The elastic control action is implemented by means of segmented piezoelectric film actuators. We show that, by using piezoelectric actuators, one can accomplish input decoupling as well as true internal actuation. We also show that the overall...

Piezoelectric actuators are the most suited actuation devices for high precision motion operations in the positioning tasks include miro/nano-positioning [1]. These actuators have unlimited motion resolution and posses some advantages such as ignorable friction, noiseless, zero backlash and easy maintenance, in comparison with the conventional actuated systems which are based on the sliding or ...

⎯ This paper compares two thick-film actuation technologies and assesses their suitability for use within micromachined devices. The materials are a piezoelectric composition, which exhibits a d33 coefficient of the order of 130pC/N, and a magnetostrictive material which possess a magnetostriction of 4.4ppm at a magnetic field of 11.5kA/m. Examples of their application in micromachined devices ...

This paper reports the numerical and experimental analysis of the acoustic streaming effect in a fluidic domain. The actuation of a piezoelectric transducer generates acoustic waves that propagate to the fluids, generating pressure gradients that induce the flow. The number and positioning of the transducers affect the pressure gradients and, consequently, the resultant flow profile. Two actuat...

In this paper, we report the fabrication of platinum nanowires using single wall carbon nanotubes as templates and their application as an electro-chemical actuator. Two regimes of actuation were seen in this actuator. In the “low” charge injection regime, quantum mechanical effects introduced by electrochemical double layer charge manipulation were the dominant actuation mechanism. Strain of a...

We have developed a hydraulic displacement amplification mechanism (HDAM) and studied its dynamic response when combined with a piezoelectric actuator. The HDAM consists of an incompressible fluid sealed in a microcavity by two largely deformable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes. The geometry with input and output surfaces having different cross-sectional areas creates amplification. By co...

A novel design and selection scheme for surface-parallel actuators for ultrathin, lightweight mirrors is presented. The actuation system consists of electrodes printed on a continuous layer of piezoelectric material bonded to an optical-quality substrate. The electrodes provide almost full coverage of the piezoelectric layer, in order to maximize the amount of active material that is available ...

A Comb Drive Actuator is a basic actuation device of MEMS. MEMS applications often require large force, large displacement, low-power and energy-efficient actuators. Low power consumption is highly desirable not only for economic reasons, but also for heat generation considerations. In this paper, different types of structural design of Comb Drive Actuator that is Fixed-Fixed Flexure Beam, Crab...

Optically driven actuators have been fabricated from single-wall carbon nanotube–polymer composite sheets. Like natural muscles, the millimetre-scale actuators are assemblies of millions of individual nanotube actuators processed into macroscopic length scales and bonded to an acrylic elastomer sheet to form an actuator that have been shown to generate higher stress than natural muscles and hig...