DC to DC Converters - Background & Design Reference

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Linear actuators are devices that develop motion and force along a straight line, as opposed to the rotary action created by motors. Linear actuators are used in everything from the automatic door lock mechanisms in cars, to zoom lenses in cameras. Artificial Muscle's EPAM technology advances the linear actuator state-of-the-art in several ways.

Linear Actuator Problems:

Today's linear actuators have significant problems:  they are not energy efficient, usually combine motors with gearing and transmissions, have many moving parts that wear with mechanical friction, make noise, and limit higher level system dexterity and efficiency due to their weight.

Linear Actuator Solutions:

Artificial Muscle’s EPAM linear actuators
have introduced a revolutionary change in how linear actuators look, sound, and perform.  Like the human muscle, EPAM linear actuators are simple, expanding configurations of durable polymer construction.  Instead of tens or hundreds of part numbers AMI linear actuators are based on a single expanding and contracting “muscle” that responds to variable levels of input voltage.  EPAM linear actuators are light weight, have high power density, and are silent. (see EPAM Linear Actuator Technology for a more technical discussion)

Conventional linear actuators that require closed loop position feedback suffer the cost of conventional encoder or other feedback devices.  Since EPAM is a capacitor, the same EPAM material that is providing linear actuation can also be configured to provide closed loop position feedback by measuring change in capacity or resistance of the muscle. (see EPAM White Papers and Design Guides for more technical information)

Universal Muscle Actuator (UMA) - A revolutionary high-volume platform for designers of linear actuators.

Artificial Muscle's new UMA platform is the first low-cost, high-volume solution for OEMs looking to gain a competitive advantage through applications of smart material EAP technology (EPAM) for linear actuators. Standard products are available today for design-in to your advanced, more capable, and lower-cost products of tomorrow. (see Development Kits for standardized high-volume evaluation applications)

Linear Actuators - Reference

Following are links to help further your investigation of advanced linear actuators:

Artificial Muscle Links:

Linear Actuator: Technology Background

Linear Actuator: Products & Services

Linear Actuator: Industries

Linear Actuator: Applications

Linear Actuator: Frequently Asked Questions

Linear Actuator: Design Guides

Linear Actuator: White Papers

Research Links:

Scholarly articles for linear actuators research
	Control of linear systems with saturating actuators - by Saberi - 99 citations Modeling and adaptive control of magnetosctrictive actuators - by Venkataraman - 17 citations ELECTROSTRICTIVE POLYMER ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE ACTUATORS - by Kornbhih - 24 citations

RRG Research Actuator Design
Actuator Design and Architecture. The goal of this research is to design an array of
... Figure 1: Electromechanical Actuator Designs. Linear Actuators ...
www.robotics.utexas.edu/rrg/research/actuator_design/

Linear Actuators - a reference guide from Engineeringtalk
News on the Electromechanical linear actuators report from IMS Research EMS hangs
on to Magnetic Elektomotoren · Segmented stator boosts actuator torque ...
www.engineeringtalk.com/guides/linear-actuators.html

ARTIFICIAL MUSCLES: Developing Linear Actuators based on Polymer ...
Schematic diagram of the cylindrical polymer gel actuator using PAN gel fibers.
... Novel stimulation schemes It became clear, from our initial research, ...
www.ai.mit.edu/projects/ muscle/programs/onr/proposal.html

Artificial Muscles
10/03
Scientific American, Inc.

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Artificial Muscle hopes that the above has been valuable in your search for linear actuators. We welcome your comments on this resource page at info@artificialmuscle.com