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Modeling and control of a finger-like mechanism using bending shape memory alloys

Microsystem Technologies volume 27, pages 2481–2492 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

In this research a biologically inspired finger-like mechanism similar to human musculoskeletal system is developed based on Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs). SMA actuators are inspiring the design of a modular finger part with compact and compliant actuation. A three-segmented finger-like mechanism is designed and fabricated. This mechanism is composed of six bending Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators. As a result, our finger mechanism is compact and compliant. The insider three SMA actuators are used for finger flexion while the outsider three SMA actuators are for extension. Each segment of this mechanism can be bent and/or extended independently by actuating a corresponding bending SMA actuator. Furthermore, full bending motion can be achieved by applying coordinated control of the three SMA actuators. Toward this goal a mathematical model of the SMA combined finger has been developed. The developed mathematical model is then used to design a proportional-derivative controller for control compliant actuation of the finger-mechanism. The performance of this mechanism has been experimentally evaluated. Our experimental results verify that the SMA-based finger module can achieve the desired postures similar to a human finger.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea Government (MSIT) (No. 2017R1A2B4008056). Also, the first and second authors are funded by the Korea Research Fellowship (KRF) program by the National Research Foundation (NRF) with KRF Grant (2019H1D3A1A01071124) and (2019H1D3A1A01102998), respectively.

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  1. Hussein F. M. Ali & Abdul Manan Khan

    Present address: Mechanical Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon, South Korea

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    Hussein F. M. Ali

  2. Department of Mechatronics Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Pakistan

    Abdul Manan Khan

  3. Electronics and Control Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon, South Korea

    Hangyeol Baek

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanbat National University, Yuseung-gu Dukmyung-dong San 16-1, Building: N7-407, Daejeon, 305-719, South Korea

    Buhyun Shin & Youngshik Kim

Authors
  1. Hussein F. M. Ali
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  2. Abdul Manan Khan
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  3. Hangyeol Baek
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Correspondence to Youngshik Kim.

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Ali, H.F.M., Khan, A.M., Baek, H. et al. Modeling and control of a finger-like mechanism using bending shape memory alloys. Microsyst Technol 27, 2481–2492 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-020-05166-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-020-05166-0

Keywords

  • Artificial finger
  • Coordinated control
  • Compliance
  • Shape memory alloy actuator
  • Soft robot