Parallel system using V-shaped shape memory alloy actuator

This paper proposed a type of tendon driven system using V-shaped SMA (shape-memory-alloy) actuator. In the proposed system, SMA actuators are bended at the end effector and the bended angles are controllable. Thus, the stiffness of the system can be adjusted by the bended angles. In addition, to control the end effector to the desired position, we developed a position control method based on the internal force using only the geometric constraints of the system. The validity of the proposed method was examined by some experiments.