Fabrication and Characterization of the Kirigami-Inspired SMA-Powered Actuator

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative approach to creating Shape Memory Alloys (SMA)-based actuators that are lightweight, compact, and capable of providing large strokes. Inspired by the Kirigami structure, an SMA actuator is designed using the <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Omega$</tex-math></inline-formula> -pattern, which utilizes out-of-plane flexion to produce a flexible metamaterial. The study focuses on providing a unique method for fabricating these actuators utilizing different cutting methods and 3D printing. The stability behavior of the SMA-based Kirigami pattern is analyzed, and two cutting strategies and their effects are discussed. The paper concludes with the successful validation of the proposed design technique through the creation of a lightweight linear actuator using the SMA active element inspired by Kirigami and a biasing element based on a flexure design. This study offers valuable insights into the development of SMA-based actuators and their potential to address the pressing need for high-stroke and high-force output in a wide range of fields, from medical devices to industrial automation, and from aerospace to robotics.