Ultra-Low-Weight Rotary Actuator for Operation on Mars and Pin Puller Mechanism Based on a Novel Shape Memory Alloy Technology.

摘要

A novel Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) has been developed as an alternative to currently available alloys. This material, called SMARQ, shows a higher working range of temperatures with respect to the SMA materials used until now. This temperature restriction is one of the most critical limitations of the current SMA devices for their use in space and other applications. A full characterization test campaign has been completed in order to obtain the main material properties and check its suitability for usage as an active material in space actuators. Results of this characterization test campaign have been presented in this work. This new alloy has been proposed for its use as actuators for space mechanisms. One application of SMA technology is an ultra-low-weight rotary actuator that has been developed for operation on Mars. The aim of this actuator is to provide an in-flight calibration system for the Dust Sensor instrument of the MEIGA-MetNet Mission that will perform airborne dust opacity measurements on the Mars surface. The total mass of the actuator is less than 9 grams (without control FPGA). A Qualification Model (QM) and a Flight Model (FM) will be presented in this work. The actuator presented is designed and qualified to withstand an impact inertia up to 2000 g and work at low temperatures (-90 C) under vacuum conditions. Similarly, two versions of a Pin Puller mechanism working in the temperature range -30 C to +125 C have been designed and analyzed. Operative breadboard models of both devices were built and tested. The main characteristics of these devices as well as preliminary operating results will be shown in this work. The use of Shape Memory Alloys on the proposed actuators presents several advantages of lightweight, high force-to-weight ratio, and low volume.