• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.497-500
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• 1997

In this paper, we proposes a bending actuator using shape memory alloy coil-type springs. By the heating of two shape memory alloy coil-type springs sequentially, the bending and stretching motion of the actuator is possible. We measure the bending angle and repeated bending motion with the various currents. Furthermore, we control the bending angle of the 1 directional bending actuator with sensors. The performance of the actuator has been characterized or the possible application for catheter.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1998.07g
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• pp.2512-2514
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• 1998

The bending actuator using zigzag type shape memory alloy springs has been fabricated and characterized. The small sized actuator with outer diameter of 3.0mm and inner diameter of 2.0mm could be implemented because zigzag type spring has advantages for thin wall type actuator over the coil type spring. The measured characteristics of the fabricated bending actuator show the possibility of practical application to micro active bending catheter.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.210-215
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• 2008

This paper presents an experimental study on a bending actuator with a shape memory alloy wire. In this study, we introduced design process and experimental result of the bending actuator. The bending actuator consists of a SMA wire, springs, and a glass/epoxy strip. In the bending actuator, springs were used to restore the SMA wire to its initial shape right after actuation. To obtain properties of the SMA wire, DSC test was performed and the behavior of the SMA wire under different loadings was observed. Finally, the proposed bending actuator shows reasonable actuation behavior with relatively lower power consumption, fast response and effective efficiency.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.556-561
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• 2000

This paper deals with the control of an active bending actuator fur a catheter. The bending actuator with 40mm in length utilizes three zigzag SMA (shape memory alloy) springs which are equally located in the circumference between inner $({\phi}2.5 mm)$ and outer $({\phi}3.0mm)$ tube. It is purposed on realization of desired bending angle $(90^{\circ})$ and direction $(360^{\circ})$. It is also installed in front of the catheter and used to guide a path at extremely bent or branched blood vessel. The performance-analysis of the bending actuator are investigated fur the purpose of optimizing the control of the bending actuator. The analog joy stick is used to command a bending angle and direction for the fast and accurate response. According to the commands of the joy stick, tensile force of each SMA spring is computed and obtained by controlling the temperature of each SMA spring using PWM (pulse width modulation) of supplied electric power.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 1999

A bending actuator using zigzag type shape memory alloy springs has been fabricated and characterized. The fabricated millimeter-sized actuator has outer diameter of 3.0mm and inner diameter of 2.0mm. The zigzag type spring is more suitable for thin wall type actuator because the zigzag type spring has a planar structure comparing with the coil type spring which has a three-dimensional structure. The measured characteristics of the fabricated bending actuator show the possibility of practical application to micro active bending catheters.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.1071-1074
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• 1995

This paper proposes two directional bending actator using three link, two shape memory alloys(SMA) of coil-type springs and two guide wires. By the heating of two SMA springs sequentially, the bending and stretching of the actuator is possible. Bending angle, force and repeated bending motion of actuator were measured and characterized. The performance of the actuator has been characterized for the possible application for catheter.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1996.07c
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• pp.1997-2000
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• 1996

A strip-type bending actuator using perfluoro sulfonic acid film ($Nafion^{(R)}$ 117, Du Pont), which is a kind of conducting polymer, fabricated and characterized. Conducting polymer is a useful material as an actuator due to the simple structure, fabrication method and low driving voltage. Experimental results show that the fabricated bending actuator has about ${\pm}10^{\circ}$ of bending angle at 4 V and fast response, which means that the conducting polymer can be used practically as actuator material.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1231-1236
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• 2007

This study presents the static and dynamic actuating performances of a bending piezoelectric actuator with a thin sandwiched PZT plate under a static load. The stored elastic energy within the actuators which occurs during a curing process is obtained through a flexural bending test. An actuating performance is evaluated in terms of an actuating displacement at the simply supported condition. The results reveal that an actuator that consists of a top layer having a high elastic modulus and a low coefficient of thermal expansion exhibits a better performance than the rest of actuators due to the formation of the large stored elastic energy within the actuator system. When actuators are excited at the alternating current voltage, the effect of PZT ceramic softening results in a slight reduction in the resonance frequency of each actuator as the applied electric field increases. It is thus suggested that the static and dynamic actuating characteristics of bending piezoelectric actuators with a thin sandwiched PZT plate should be simultaneously considered in controlling their performances.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-83
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the flexible structure of parabolic shell using photostrictive actuators. The analysis is made to know its dynamic behavior and light-induced control forces for coupled parabolic shell. The effects of an actuator location as well as membrane and bending components under the control action have been analyzed considering the approximate spherical model. The parabolic membrane shell accuracy is being mathematically approximated and validated comparing the light induced control forces using approximate equivalent spherical shell model. The parabolic shell with kapton smart material and photostrictive actuators has been used to formulate the governing equation in the transverse direction. The Kirchhoff-Love assumptions are used to obtain the governing equation of shell with actuator. The mechanical membrane forces and bending moments for parabolic thin shell with actuator is used to analyze the dynamic effect. The results show that membrane control action is much more significant than bending control action. Photostrictive actuators oriented along circumferential direction (actuator-2) can give better control effect than actuators placed along longitudinal direction (actuator-1). The slight difference is observed between spherical and parabolic shell for a surface with focal length to the diameter ratio of 1.00 or more than unity. Space applications often have the shape of parabolical shells or shell of revolution, due to their required focusing, aiming, or reflecting performance. The present approach is focused that photostrictive actuators can effectively control the vibration of parabolical membrane shell. Also, the actuator's location plays an important role in defining the control force.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2021

The gripper with a soft pneumatic actuator uses a soft material, unlike the gripper that uses a rigid body, so it is safer and lighter to interact with objects without advanced control technology. Among the soft pneumatic actuators that have been studied, PneuNets actuators have bellows shape, which enable quick operation and complete bending with only small material deformation at low pressure. In this study, we suggested improved form of PneuNets actuators to obtain the performance of the soft actuator that a larger bending angle and larger bending force at a small pressure. An experiment was designed and conducted to measure the bending angle and bending force according to the pressure. As a result, it was confirmed through experiments that the improved model has a maximum bending angle at a pressure of 5 kPa lower than that of the previous model, and a maximum bending force of 1.97 times at the same pressure.