A Bidirectional, Linear and Binary, Segmented Antagonistic Servomechanism-based Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator comprising a main stroke transmitting lever (11 or 18) and a plurality of part-modules (15A or 15B) disposed in a closely spaced arrangement and adapted to undergo a reciprocal translation in a first direction. wherein, the part-modules comprising a plurality of segments having SMA elements (12). The invention provides two configurations arranged in straight and cross configurations of the SMA elements in the part-modules. Further above configuration are arranged in a tight close space however, the cross configuration provides additional 40% compactness. The configurations comprise a S-type long tail or flipped F-type long tail main stroke transmitting lever and plurality of straight or cross configurations part modules, respectively. The novel embodiment can be utilized for micro-positioning of 3D printer filament extruder head, linear and angular displacement applications such as robotic, prosthesis, bi-stable position control, latching-unlatching systems, and other wide engineering applications.

The invention relates to an aerosol generation system comprising an aerosol generation device having a heating element and a consumable for use with the aerosol generation device. The heat transfer element can be heated by the heating element of the aerosol generation device when the consumable is attached to the aerosol generation device. The heat transfer element is configured to be deformed when its temperature is at or above a threshold temperature, such that an area of contact, which exists between the heating element and the heat transfer element when the consumable is attached to the aerosol generation device and the temperature of the heat transfer element is below the threshold temperature, can be reduced, or eliminated.

A distance adjustment apparatus and a control method of the distance adjustment apparatus are provided. The distance adjustment apparatus includes a connection component, and the connection component includes a first component and a second component. The first component is connected to the second component, and a memory alloy component is disposed in a connection region between the first component and the second component. The memory alloy component is controlled by a current to drive the first component and the second component to move closer to and/or away from each other.

An actuating device includes an actuator and a stationary portion. The actuator has at least one driving portion. The stationary portion is provided at an arbitrary position along the actuator such that the driving portion forms a first driving portion and a second driving portion. The first driving portion and the second driving portion can be provided with the same actuating ability or with different actuating abilities respectively by adjusting the position of the stationary portion.

The present invention has as its technical problem to obtain an alloy having a low thermal coefficient characteristic or a negative coefficient of thermal expansion in the vicinity of 600 to 800? C. The controlled expansion alloy of the present invention contains, by wt %, Fe: 20 to 50%, Ni: 0 to 25%, and Cr: 0 to 30% and has a balance of Co and impurities.

An effector system comprises: an effector assembly including: a first segment having a conduit between a proximal end and a distal end, an inner surface of the conduit having a conductive portion and a resistive portion; an output member slidable within the conduit, the output member having a conductive exterior contacting the inner surface; a first shape-memory transducer affixed between the proximal end and the output member; and a second shape-memory transducer affixed between the distal end and the output member; and a controller configured to: selectively energize: (i) the first shape-memory transducer to slide the output member in a first direction, (ii) the second shape-memory transducer to slide the output member in a second direction, or (iii) the resistive portion of the inner surface; and in response to energizing the resistive portion, determine a position of the output member.

An actuator assembly comprises a support structure (6), a movable part (5) movable relative to the support structure, at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire (2) connected between the support structure and the movable part via wire attach components and arranged, on contraction, to drive movement of the movable part and a control circuit configured to apply drive signals to the at least one SMA wire so as to drive movement of the movable part relative to the support structure between predetermined positions in a repeated pattern; wherein the length of the at least one SMA wire extending between respective wire attach components is less than 5 mm.

A wind turbine rotor blade, with a length, a rotor blade root, a rotor blade tip, a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an air guide for heated air to guide heated air inside of the rotor blade and along a longitudinal direction of the rotor blade from the rotor blade root in the direction of the rotor blade tip. The wind turbine rotor blade additionally comprises at least one passively controllable air control element in the area of the air guide. The invention further relates to a wind turbine with at least one wind turbine rotor blade.

A power supply circuit for supplying a load, which may be a SMA component or a piezoelectric component, may use short high-voltage pulses to achieve fast heating of the load and, in order to comply with functional requirements, the SMA or piezoelectric component should not be supplied by connecting it directly to an electric line at a relatively high voltage. It is also disclosed an actuator comprising a power supply circuit of this disclosure and at least one load, comprising at least one smart materials chosen between a piezoelectric device and a a shape memory alloy (SMA) component, and a method of supplying a load comprising the steps of: connecting the AC to DC voltage converter of the power supply circuit to the AC mains by closing the input switch for charging a tank capacitor of the converter and, at the same time, opening the output switch for disconnecting the load from the tank capacitor: disconnecting the AC to DC voltage converter of the power supply circuit from the AC mains by opening the input switch and, at the same time, closing the output switch to supply the load by discharging the tank capacitor.

A Bidirectional, Linear and Binary, Segmented Antagonistic Servomechanism-based Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator comprising a main stroke transmitting lever (11 or 18) and a plurality of part-modules (15A or 15B) disposed in a closely spaced arrangement and adapted to undergo a reciprocal translation in a first direction. wherein, the part-modules comprising a plurality of segments having SMA elements (12). The invention provides two configurations arranged in straight and cross configurations of the SMA elements in the part-modules. Further above configuration are arranged in a tight close space however, the cross configuration provides additional 40% compactness. The configurations comprise a S-type long tail or flipped F-type long tail main stroke transmitting lever and plurality of straight or cross configurations part modules, respectively. The novel embodiment can be utilized for micro-positioning of 3D printer filament extruder head, linear and angular displacement applications such as robotic, prosthesis, bi-stable position control, latching-unlatching systems, and other wide engineering applications.