Miniaturization of Self-Reconfigurable Robotic System using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

Eiichi Yoshida; Shigeru Kokaji; Satoshi Murata; Kohji Tomita; Haruhisa Kurokawa

doi:10.20965/jrm.2000.p0096

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JRM Vol.12 No.2 pp. 96-102

doi: 10.20965/jrm.2000.p0096

(2000)

Paper:

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Miniaturization of Self-Reconfigurable Robotic System using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

Eiichi Yoshida, Shigeru Kokaji, Satoshi Murata, Kohji Tomita and Haruhisa Kurokawa

Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, AIST, MITI, 1-2 Namiki, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8564 Japan

Received:

October 6, 1999

Accepted:

November 22, 1999

Published:

April 20, 2000

Keywords:

modular robotic system, self-reconfiguration, shape memory alloy actuator, miniature/micro robot

Abstract

This paper presents a small-size self-reconfigurable modular machine using shape memory alloy (SMA). The system is designed so that various shapes can be actively formed by a group of identical mechanical units. Each mechanical unit realizes two-dimensional rotational motion by using a novel actuator mechanism composed of two SMA torsion springs which can generate sufficient motion range and torque. The size and the weight of a unit are approximately 5[cm] cube and 80[g]. The reconfiguration motion of the machine is verified by many-unit experiments. Applicability of the developed unit model to a 3-D self-reconfigurable system is also discussed.

Cite this article as:

E. Yoshida, S. Kokaji, S. Murata, K. Tomita, and H. Kurokawa, “Miniaturization of Self-Reconfigurable Robotic System using Shape Memory Alloy Actuators,” J. Robot. Mechatron., Vol.12 No.2, pp. 96-102, 2000.

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