This paper presents a novel Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) linear actuator and its application driving the joints of an anthropomorphic robotic hand. Its main feature is that it is a flexible SMA actuator, it is designed so that it can be bent. The possibility of bending the actuator while preserving its capacity to produce a linear movement allows to use very long SMA wires, able to yield a great linear displacement, in a confined space. This feature provides better integration and adaptability than other existing high-displacement SMA actuators. The mechanical design of the presented SMA flexible actuator is based on the Bowden cable transmission system, using a multilayer sheath with a PTFE inner sheath to reduce friction losses and a stainless steel outer sheath that functions as a heat sink to reduce the cooling time of the SMA element. To test the SMA actuator with a real device, a robotic hand has been built using low cost rapid prototyping techniques from an open source design. The designed flexible SMA actuator has a great potential to be used in humanoid robots or robotic prostheses, due to its adaptability, output force, low weight and silent operation.

Con el objetivo de alcanzar resultados satisfactorios en la enseñanza y puesta en práctica de cursos semestrales de ingeniería de control, en los que la presencia de alumnos de distintas disciplinas es más que notoria, se torna necesario recurrir a altos niveles de abstracción en la programación de los sistemas de control. Este alto nivel de abstracción procede del uso de un sistema de prototipado rápido para control de carácter avanzado, que permite recurrir a funcionalidades que no habían sido previstas en ningún entorno de prototipado rápido para control disponible con anterioridad. El carácter avanzado del sistema brinda soluciones desde el más alto nivel de abstracción, el denominado diseño basado en modelos, para las intricadas relaciones necesarias entre la ingeniería de control y la informática en tiempo real, permitiendo que los alumnos puedan centrar su esfuerzo en el desarrollo del algoritmo de control, la identificación de sistemas y el modelado de plantas físicas en lugar de preocuparse por las tediosas tareas de gestión y configuración a bajo nivel de la arquitectura hardware que están empleando. Gracias a este alto nivel de abstracción, que cubre el espectro abarcado por funcionalidades de muy bajo nivel y funcionalidades de muy alto nivel, el manejo del sistema propuesto se encuentra al alcance de audiencias multidisciplinares.El sistema avanzado de prototipado rápido para control se está empleando para cursos semestrales así como en multitud de Tesis de Máster y Doctorales.

This paper describes the fully integration of an innovative and low-cost pressure sensor sheet based on a bendable and printed electronics technology. All integration stages are covered, from most low-level functional system, like physical analog sensor data acquisition, followed by embedded data processing, to end user interactive visual application. Data acquisition embedded software and hardware was developed using a Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP). Finally, after first electronic prototype successful testing, a Taylor-made electronics was developed, reducing electronics volume to 3.5 cm × 6 cm × 2 cm with a maximum power consumption of 765 mW for both electronics and pressure sensor sheet.

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There are many applications for which a patient needs functional compensation due to motor disorders in daily activities. Classic research has focused on robotics solutions in terms of actuators or motors, but the point of this paper is to analyze new solutions combining both biological and artificial structures, in order to improve standard developments. Nowadays wearable Robots are taking an important role in rehabilitation purposes, due to this issue lots of new designs are emerging, but most of them are not still prepared to be used in terms of autonomy, weight, etc. Under the Hybrid Neuroprosthetic and Neurorobotic devices for Functional Compensation and Rehabilitation (HYPER) project, new actuator technologies have been developed in order to improve the adaptability and portability of rehabilitation devices. The designed device is based on a lightweight magnetorheological (MR) clutch which is able to transmit torque from a motor to the injured joint. Though it is intended to work in human upper limb (elbow mainly), other future designs will also be studied for other human joints. Simulation results using Simulink®, MSC Adams®and MSMS®are reported to illustrate the viability of the proposed device.