Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the Application

Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators have recently demonstrated their potential for various applications in fields such as robotics, medicine, aerospace, and automotive. Its features, such as low weight and high force, simplicity, noiseless operation, and low cost compared with other conventional actu...

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Main Authors: Janeth Arias Guadalupe, Dorin Copaci, David Serrano del Cerro, Luis Moreno, Dolores Blanco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Actuators
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/10/3/63
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author Janeth Arias Guadalupe
Dorin Copaci
David Serrano del Cerro
Luis Moreno
Dolores Blanco
author_facet Janeth Arias Guadalupe
Dorin Copaci
David Serrano del Cerro
Luis Moreno
Dolores Blanco
author_sort Janeth Arias Guadalupe
collection DOAJ
description Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators have recently demonstrated their potential for various applications in fields such as robotics, medicine, aerospace, and automotive. Its features, such as low weight and high force, simplicity, noiseless operation, and low cost compared with other conventional actuator, are only a few advantages of this actuator, which is receiving increasing interest among researchers. However, the use of these actuators is still limited by some of their characteristics: high position error in the cooling stage when the actuator works at frequencies that exceed the necessary cooling time and high electrical energy consumption. Different actuator configurations can help minimize these disadvantages through modifying the length, the number of cables, or the sheath used in the actuator, which modify the characteristics of the complete system. In this work, we developed different configurations of SMA actuators and tested their performance in terms of efficiency and the position error in the cooling stage. The findings demonstrate that over-dimensioned actuators are more energetically efficient and present a faster initial form recovery. The multi-wires actuator configuration produce a better response in terms of position but are less energy efficient. These conclusions allow for the selection of the most appropriate configuration based on the requirements of each particular application.
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spelling doaj.art-411ec9da9ca4457ea0478219164211ae2023-11-21T11:16:52ZengMDPI AGActuators2076-08252021-03-011036310.3390/act10030063Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the ApplicationJaneth Arias Guadalupe0Dorin Copaci1David Serrano del Cerro2Luis Moreno3Dolores Blanco4Department of Systems Engineering and Automation, Carlos III University of Madrid, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Systems Engineering and Automation, Carlos III University of Madrid, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Systems Engineering and Automation, Carlos III University of Madrid, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Systems Engineering and Automation, Carlos III University of Madrid, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Systems Engineering and Automation, Carlos III University of Madrid, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, SpainShape memory alloy (SMA) actuators have recently demonstrated their potential for various applications in fields such as robotics, medicine, aerospace, and automotive. Its features, such as low weight and high force, simplicity, noiseless operation, and low cost compared with other conventional actuator, are only a few advantages of this actuator, which is receiving increasing interest among researchers. However, the use of these actuators is still limited by some of their characteristics: high position error in the cooling stage when the actuator works at frequencies that exceed the necessary cooling time and high electrical energy consumption. Different actuator configurations can help minimize these disadvantages through modifying the length, the number of cables, or the sheath used in the actuator, which modify the characteristics of the complete system. In this work, we developed different configurations of SMA actuators and tested their performance in terms of efficiency and the position error in the cooling stage. The findings demonstrate that over-dimensioned actuators are more energetically efficient and present a faster initial form recovery. The multi-wires actuator configuration produce a better response in terms of position but are less energy efficient. These conclusions allow for the selection of the most appropriate configuration based on the requirements of each particular application.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/10/3/63SMA actuatorselectrical efficiencyelectrical powerposition response
spellingShingle Janeth Arias Guadalupe
Dorin Copaci
David Serrano del Cerro
Luis Moreno
Dolores Blanco
Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the Application
Actuators
SMA actuators
electrical efficiency
electrical power
position response
title Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the Application
title_full Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the Application
title_fullStr Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the Application
title_full_unstemmed Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the Application
title_short Efficiency Analysis of SMA-Based Actuators: Possibilities of Configuration According to the Application
title_sort efficiency analysis of sma based actuators possibilities of configuration according to the application
topic SMA actuators
electrical efficiency
electrical power
position response
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/10/3/63
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AT dorincopaci efficiencyanalysisofsmabasedactuatorspossibilitiesofconfigurationaccordingtotheapplication
AT davidserranodelcerro efficiencyanalysisofsmabasedactuatorspossibilitiesofconfigurationaccordingtotheapplication
AT luismoreno efficiencyanalysisofsmabasedactuatorspossibilitiesofconfigurationaccordingtotheapplication
AT doloresblanco efficiencyanalysisofsmabasedactuatorspossibilitiesofconfigurationaccordingtotheapplication