An active material based body for varying friction force levels at the interface between two surfaces

摘要

An apparatus for selectively controlling and varying a frictional force level at an interface between two bodies comprises a first contact body having at least one surface, a second contact body having at least one surface in physical communication with the first contact body and an active material in operative association with a selected one or both of the first contact body and the second contact body, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change of a property is effective to increase the friction force level at the interface between the at least one surface of the first contact body and to change the at least one surface of the second contact body.