Shape memory alloys (SMAs) provide compact and effective actuation for a variety of mechanical systems. Automotive applications of these materials, although very attractive, have not been fully explored. The lack of activities in this area is partly due to the complex thermomechanical behavior of these materials. In this work a two degree of freedom SMA actuator has been developed to orient the position of a rearview mirror for automotive applications. This paper presents the design, modeling, and experimental evaluation of this SMA mirror actuator. To evaluate the performance of the actuator a prototype SMA actuated mirror is designed and fabricated. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SMA actuator in positioning the mirror.
This paper, written by students on the Rockwall High School (Texas) Robotics Team, describes how we developed a remote-controlled, "talking" trash can robot for greater public exposure for our team and for greater practical experience in robotic construction and design. We were motivated by the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) emphasis on fostering enthusiasm in the technological field on a competitive level. We used this framework in a non-competition setting to design, build, and test our trash can robot. After the construction and troubleshooting were completed, we demonstrated the trash can robot to our community, stimulating local interest in FIRST and robotics in general. We learned important real-world engineering concepts from this project and inspired fellow students with an enthusiasm for computer science, engineering, and technology.
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