Actuator array

This system contains an actuator array consisting of 4,225 PNIPAAm acmators at a pitch of 580 pm (Richter and Paschew 2009). Each actuator pixel is individually switchable using the optoelectrothermic control based on a commercial business video projection system. 

We envisage a future where artificial muscle actuator arrays can be used to perform useful tasks such as product conveyance or perhaps water propulsion. They will be simple in constmction without the burden of central controllers or added sensors and this will be made possible through touch sensitivity. 

The brittleness of inorganic materials means that they readily break upon contact with macroscale objects. The polysiKcon legs used in the thermal actuator array above snapped when too much weight was appKed. Similarly, polysilicon microgrippers have been known to break if touched by a macro-object or if exposed to air velocities higher than 1 m/s [109]. 

Terry, M. Reiter, J. Bohringer, K.F. Suh, J.W. and Kovacs, G.T.A. A docking system, for microsatellites based on MEMS actuator arrays. Smart Mater. 

Bohringer, K.R, Suh, J.F., Donald, B.R. and Kovacs, G.T.A. (1997) Vector fields for task-level distributed manipulation experiments with organic micro-actuator arrays . In IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Albuquerque, New Mexico 1779-86. 

Cho, K.-J., Asada, H. Architecture design of a multi-axis cellular actuator array using segmented binary control of shape memory alloy. IEEE Transactions on Robotics 22, 831-842 (2006)... 

Figure 6.9 Images of a Braille display (a) the flexible Braille sheet display using IPMC actuator array (b) the device assembly (c) circuit diagram of the Braille sheet display (Reprinted with permission from Kato, Y., Sekitani, T., Takamiya, M. et al. Sheet-Type Braille Displays by Integrating Organic Field-Effect Transistors and Polymeric Actuators, IEEE Trans on Electron. Devices, 54 (2), 202-9. Copyright (2007) IEEE).

Deng PG, Lee YK, Cheng P (2006) Two-dimensional microbubble actuator array to enhance the efficiency of molecular beacon DNA micro-biosensors. Biosens Bioelectron 21 1443-1450... 

Figure 3 One dimensional multifunctional sensor/actuator array with 9 metal film resistors above the etched flow channel...

Fig. 4 A thickness-mode actuator array (a) voltage off and (b) voltage on (Reprodueed with permission fiom Prahlad et al. 2005)...

J.H. Comtois and V.M. Bright, Surface Micromachined Polysilicon Thermal Actuator Arrays and Applications, Solid-State Sensor and Actuation Workshop, Hilton Head, pp. 174-177 (1996). 

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