Exploiting the potential of magnetic shape memory alloys for the development of adaptive user-centered control elements

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Bernd Gundelsweiler; Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Maier
• Subject Area: Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human-Machine Systems ; Engineering Design, Machine Elements, Product Development
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 564608338

With increasingly complex products and machines with a high degree of functional integration, there is a rise in the importance of intelligent and multifunctional manipulators for the development of human-machine-interfaces (HMI). In a variable and complex operating environment, the ability to adjust to the user and/or task is essential for effective, efficient and satisfactory operation. For the implementation of these adaptive, user-centered control elements employing variable characteristics and adjustable information coding by haptic feedback, the use of “smart materials” is a promising option. Thus, this project is intended to investigate the use of magnetic shape memory alloys (MSM) in the development of adaptive, user-centered control elements for the first time. MSM alloys exhibit deformation under influence of an external magnetic field. They possess characteristics such as large strains in the percentage range, high magnetically induced mechanical stress, strain-dependent properties suitable for sensor application, and the ability to hold strains without power consumption. This promising but so far unexplored potential for use in the field of manipulators is to be investigated in detail here. In this project, a functional demonstrator of an MSM-based control element will be developed. Its usability will be tested in an evaluation study. The first step involves a systematic analysis and generation of working principles for an MSM-based control element. Various solutions are created with their working principles outlined based on the structure of a morphological box. From this overview, a number of requirements and working principles is chosen as a basis for the subsequent development, set-up and characterization of a demonstrator system. For this development, the demonstrator system is split into the MSM-system and the control element which are developed and characterized first before being merged into the combined demonstrator system. The MSM-based manipulator is then embedded in an operating task and examined using a proband evaluation. This is done by examining the adaptive features of the MSM-based control element on a hardware and software level and the suitability for use of MSM in HMI is assessed. Concluding, results from the evaluation study and the design process are analyzed in conjunction to derive general design guidelines for the utilization of magnetic shape memory alloys in adaptive, user-centered interfaces.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants