Current research programs to accomplish similar objectives are using external control surfaces such as leading and trailing edge flaps and other smart structures technology. To be successful, compliant structures must offer the desired actuation characteristics and mechanical advantage but retain enough stiffness to resist external loads. These requirements led Dr. Kota, Dr. Kikuchi, and their students to develop a fundamentally new mathematical approach. It develops solutions based on prescribed boundary conditions and loading environments, and considers the kinematic, geometric, and continuum mechanics aspects of the problem. A ctuators, the basic components which enable the mechanical operation of USAF systems, allow key weapon subsystems such as missile tail fins and aircraft flaps to operate.
Current actuators have many parts with many connecting joints.
Using traditional design and production methods produces strong and stiff actuator mechanisms. However, a new methodology is emerging to design compliant mechanisms jointless, unibody constructed units. These units are cheaper and easier to manufacture and offer more advantageous performance of how a finite element code starts from a blank design space and, in a series of steps, converges on a design solution for a compliant mechanism. The process, pictured to the right, adapts the mechanism shape based on a set of desired load and displacement conditions that describe specific structural operations. The final design in this simple example can be used to create the jointless, compliant tool shown above left.