A review of shape memory alloy actuators in robotics

Abstract

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) have been used for a wide variety of applications in various fields such as robotics. If these materials subjected to an appropriate thermomechanical process, they have ability to return to their initial shape. Often, they are used as actuators in robotic applications. The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of literatures which using SMA in different robots' structure. First an introduction about shape memory effect of these materials will present. Then an assessment of done researches in application of these materials in robots' structure will accomplish and is devoted to the following area of robotics: Crawler, jumper, flower, fish, walker, medical and Bio-mimetic robotic hand. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.