The High Redundancy Actuator (HRA) project deals with the construction of an actuator using many redundant actuation elements.
Similar to continuum robots, at least three actuation elements are necessary to control the motion in three-dimensional space.
Ultimately, it will not be the flashy exteriors and trend setting colors that will transform the automobile industry, but all of the tiny electronic measurement, control and actuation elements inside the wheels, chassis and behind the dashboard.
Furthermore, in most continuum systems, the heavy actuation elements are placed at their base, enabling the isolation of these components from the harsh conditions of the environment where the inspection is performed and reduction of the weight of the device's inspection segments.
An asymmetrical three-layered actuator element was fabricated to investigate the actuation mechanism.
It is intended to feed fuel cells with electric power up to 100 W and contains a complete setup of the technological elements: catalytic reforming and PROX reactors, a combustor, evaporators, actuation and sensing elements, and a control unit.
Pneumatics and hydraulics are useful for the actuation of diverse elements from brakes and valves to robotics and machine tools.
Sequential actuation of the elements within the micropump in the desired fashion has been shown to pump a one microlitre droplet of water back and forth in a controlled way through the reaction chambers in the lab-on-a-chip.
