Smart composite material system with sensor, actuator and processor functions: A model of holding and releasing a ball

A smart composite material system which has three smart functions of sensor, actuator and processor has been developed intend to apply to structure of house for controlling ambient temperature and humidity, hands of robot for holding and feeling an object, and so on. A carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) is used as matrix in the smart composite. The size of the matrix is 120mm x 24mm x 0.45mm. The CFRP plate is combined two Ni-Ti shape memory alloy (SMA) wires with an elastic rubber to construct a composite material. The composite material has a characteristic of reversible response with respect to temperature. A photo-sensor and temperature sensor are embedded in the composite material. The composite material has a processor function to combine with a simple CPU (processor) unit. For demonstrating the capability of the composite material system, a model is built up for controlling certain behaviors such as gripping and releasing a spherical object. The amplitude of gripping force is (3.0 plus/minus 0.3) N in the measurement, which is consistent with our calculation of 2.7 N. Out of a variety of functions to be executed by the CPU, it is shown to exert calculation and decision making in regard to object selection, object holding, and ON-OFF control of action by external commands.