Intelligent actuator

In particular, the decoupling of both sensor and actuator operation for force and displacement reconstruction according to Fig. 6.8 is the main difference in the intelligent actuator concepts depicted in Fig. 6.7. In the case of self-sensing actuators the output y of the sensory path is strongly influenced by the driving quantity X of the solid-state transducer and must be... 

The topic of intelligent actuators and self-sensing actuators will gain growing importance for adaptronic applications, e. g. in relation to structurally integrated electrical actuators. Therefore, we will look at them in more detail from a theoretical system point of view in Sect. 6.9. 

Pie2oelectric materials are used in many different types of sensing—actuating devices. A few appHcations include printing, monitoring of performance behavior of adhesive joints, and intelligent processing. 

Because of its physical properties, polypyrrole has been cited as a unique building block for intelligent polymeric materials, ie, it has characteristics which make it capable of sensing, information processing, and response actuation (48). 

When the development of a scientific field expands, the need for handbooks arises, wherein the information that appeared earlier in journals and conference proceedings is systematically and selectively presented. The sensor and actuator Held is now in this position. For this reason, Elsevier Science took the initiative to develop a series of handbooks with the name "Handbook of Sensors and Actuators" which will contain the most meaningful background material that is important for the sensor and actuator field. Titles like Fundamentals of Transducers, Thick Film Sensors, Magnetic Sensors, Micromachining, Piezoelectric Crystal Sensors, Robot Sensors and Intelligent Sensors will be part of this series. 

Smart and adaptive or intelligent materials adjust their mechanical properties upon the receipt of an external stimulus. In engineering language, they act as integrated sensors, processors, and actuators. For example, some polymers can be considered to be smart since they change their shapes with a change of temperature [3] this property has been exploited in the development of all-... 

As is the case for smart materials, intelligent textiles have the property to respond to their environment, sometimes in a clearly perceptible way, but sometimes at the molecular level, completely invisible to the observer. They cover a wide range of technologies, from materials with shape-memory properties or sensing and actuating properties, to entire systems based on information technology5. 

Intelligent Polymer Systems possess the ability to sense, process information and actuate responses based on the environment to which the structure is exposed. In addition, the structure may require energy to implement these functions and so energy conversion/storage capabilities are desirable. Ideally these functions would be integrated at the molecular level. 

The discovery of inherently conducting polymers also provided a class of materials that would feed the imagination of Scientists and Engineers in pursuit of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures. No other class of materials possess the inherent properties necessary to function as sensors, information processors and actuators, as well as the possibility of providing an energy conversion system. 

FIGURE 1.1 An intelligent material the surface of polypyrrole (as seen with an electron microscope) in the shape of a human brain. The intelligent material, similar to our brain, processes information from sensors to actuate an appropriate response, and is supported by energy conversion/storage systems. 

CEPs have emerged as one of the champions in intelligent material research. They have all the desirable properties they are readily engineered at the molecular level to recognize specific stimuli they facilitate transport of electrical information as they are conductive and they are capable of localized processing as well as actuation of response mechanisms. A wide range of CEPs are available (Table 1.1). 

To function as intelligent materials, conducting polymers must be capable of stimuli recognition, information processing, and response actuation. As a result, they must possess appropriate chemical properties that change in response to stimuli and appropriate electrical properties that allow information to be transported within the structure and switches to be actuated. The mechanical properties must also be considered, because the creation of materials with ideal chemical and electrical properties, but with inappropriate mechanical properties, will be of questionable value. 

---