Precise position control using shape memory alloy wires

Donmez B., Ozkan B., KADIOĞLU F. S.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES, vol.18, no.5, pp.899-912, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/elk-0906-14
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.899-912
  • Keywords: Shape memory alloy wire, precise control, smart materials, computer simulations, experiment
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are active metallic "smart" materials used as actuators and sensors in high technology smart systems [1]. The term shape memory refers to ability of certain materials to "remember" a shape, even after rather severe deformations: once deformed at low temperatures, these materials will stay deformed until heated, whereupon they will return to their original, pre-deformed "learned" shape [2]. This property can be used to generate motion and/or force in electromechanical devices and micro-machines. However, the accuracy of SMA actuators is severely limited by their highly nonlinear stimulus-response characteristics. In this work, modeling, simulation, and experimental efforts to precisely control the position of a Ni-Ti based shape memory alloy wire is presented. In this content three separate control strategies are tried and very good positioning accuracies are obtained.