Introduction to Smart Material Sensors and Actuators

Overview:

Smart materials (e.g., piezoelectrics, shape memory alloys, and electroactive polymers) show strong

couplings between the applied electric, magnetic, or thermal field with their mechanical properties. Such

couplings provide built-in mechanisms for sensing and actuation. Sensors and actuators made of smart

materials, called smart sensors and smart actuators, are particularly suitable for applications in bio-

medical devices, bio-inspired robots, and micro- and nanosystems. This class is organized as follows.

Fundamental physics of smart materials will be discussed first. Second, dynamical modeling and control

of smart materials will be covered. Third, applications of smart materials, including micro-strain gauges,

microgenerators, microgrippers, microvalves, and nanopositioners, will be discussed. Last, a special topic

on electroactive polymer artificial muscles will be presented, in which a systems perspective will be

taken, from fabrication, modeling, control, and applications to bio-inspired underwater robots.

Pre-requisite classes: EE 684

Instructor:

Dr. Zheng Chen

Time & Place:

Monday & Thursday afternoon

Office hours:

Tuesday 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Text Book:

There is no text book for this class. Lecture notes and reference materials will be distributed in the class.

Reference Book:

R. Smith, SMART MATERIALS: MODEL DEVELOPMENT, SIAM, 2005

Grading:

No exam for this class. The grading will be based on

1: Participation and in-class discussion (20%)

2: Homework (20%)

3: Midterm proposal report and presentation (20%)

4: Final report and presentation (40%)