Shape Control of Adaptive Structures Using Compliant Mechanisms

摘要

A methodology for designing compliant mechanisms for a given static shape change task has been developed. In this methodology, given two different shapes the synthesis program automatically generates the form (topology, size and shape) of an optimized compliant mechanism which is actuated by minimum number of actuators (typically one). The energy from the actuator is transferred via compliant mechanism to deform one given shape into another desired shape. The basic premise is to distribute the actuation energy of remote acutator via compliant transmission (distributed compliance) instead of using a plethora of actuators (distributed actuation systems).