Development of a Magnetic Shape Memory Based Mechatronic System

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Hartmut Janocha
• Subject Area: Microsystems
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 229019716

The main goal of this transfer project proposal is the realization of a mechatronic positioning system based on magnetic shape memory (MSM) alloys. The structure of the system has been chosen based on the experience of the applicant LPA and the collaborating partner ETO MAGNETIC GmbH in the field of MSM actuators. Both partners believe that the push-push configuration can lead to several advantages with respect to the state of the art, foremost the possibility to use the internal friction forces of the material (twinning stress) advantageously to hold a position without supplying power. The MSM push-push actuator shall be analyzed from both a design and control point of view. Several steps will be taken to bring the basic idea to a fully working mechatronic system which satisfies the specifications of a positioning tool. These steps include the stability analysis of suitable controllers (classical proportional-integral-derivative, adaptive, robust, model-based, etc…), the investigation of the inherent sensing capability of the active material and the development of an application-specific current source which ensures the working bandwidth of interest. The target of the work proposed here is a working demonstrator of an MSM positioning system.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants (Transfer Project)
• Participating Institution: ETO MAGNETIC GmbH