Temperature Features of Shape Memory Alloy Actuation Control System

In this paper, the shape memory alloy (SMA) based actuation control system with the effect of temperature are studied for flexible arms, which involves the sensitivity of SMA actuators to ambient temperature variations. First, the SMA-based actuation control structure is introduced. Second, the temperature features of SMA actuator are investigated. Third, the SMA-based actuation control system is designed to control the arm vibration displacement, to eliminate the temperature variations around the SMA actuator with a temperature compensator, and to improve the tracking performance by multiple PD loops. The designed control system posses to robust the temperature variations at the SMA surroundings. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified under the constant temperature and changing temperature around the SMA actuator. The results show that even if the surrounding temperature of SMA actuator is rising over time, the vibration-controlled system can still remain stable the arm vibration displacement, as well as has a good temperature tolerant characteristics for the temperature effect. The reliability of the SMA-based vibration control system with the temperature variations is confirmed.