%0 Journal Article %A Daniel Amariei and Calin O. Miclosina and Ion Vela and Marius Tufoi and Cornel Mituletu %D 2010 %J International Journal of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering %B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology %I Open Science Index 47, 2010 %T Contributions to Design of Systems Actuated by Shape Memory Active Elements %U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/3172 %V 47 %X Even it has been recognized that Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) have a significant potential for deployment actuators, the number of applications of SMA-based actuators to the present day is still quite small, due to the need of deep understanding of the thermo-mechanical behavior of SMA, causing an important need for a mathematical model able to describe all thermo-mechanical properties of SMA by relatively simple final set of constitutive equations. SMAs offer attractive potentials such as: reversible strains of several percent, generation of high recovery stresses and high power / weight ratios. The paper tries to provide an overview of the shape memory functions and a presentation of the designed and developed temperature control system used for a gripper actuated by two pairs of differential SMA active springs. An experimental setup was established, using electrical energy for actuator-s springs heating process. As for holding the temperature of the SMA springs at certain level for a long time was developed a control system in order to avoid the active elements overheating. %P 1178 - 1183