On Combining Shape Memory Alloy Actuators and Pneumatic Actuators for Performance Enhancement in Soft Robotics

Through soft robotics, flexible structures confer an elevated degree of protection and safety in usage, as well as precision and reliability. Using theoretical models while combining different types of soft components opens a wide variety of possibilities for the development of new and better altern...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inActuators Vol. 13; no. 4; p. 127
Main Authors Brașoveanu, Florian-Alexandru, Burlacu, Adrian
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2024
Subjects
Actuators
Analysis
Design
Flexible structures
hybrid actuation
hybrid structures
mathematical modeling
Mathematical models
Methods
Numerical analysis
Robotics
Robotics industry
Robots
Shape memory alloys
Simulation
Simulation methods
Soft robotics
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Summary:Through soft robotics, flexible structures confer an elevated degree of protection and safety in usage, as well as precision and reliability. Using theoretical models while combining different types of soft components opens a wide variety of possibilities for the development of new and better alternatives to rigid robots. Modeling and controlling soft robotic structures is still a challenge and is presented in different ways by the scientific community. The present scientific work aims to combine two of the most popular types of soft actuators, specifically shape memory alloy and pneumatic actuators. The purpose is to observe the interaction between individual entities and the resulting combined dynamics, highlighting the distinctive effects and influences observed in the combined system. An evaluation is conducted from a numerical simulation perspective in the MATLAB environment using representative mathematical models. The tests prove that a structure combining these particular actuators benefits from the advantages of both components and even compensates for individual downsides.
ISSN:2076-0825
2076-0825
DOI:10.3390/act13040127