| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S69528/01 |
| Title: |
Basic Technology: Micro Metal Hydride Actuators |
| Principal Investigator: |
Caldwell, Dr D |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Informatics Research Institute |
| Organisation: |
University of Salford |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 March 2004 |
Ends: |
31 May 2005 |
Value (£): |
96,112
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Electronics |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Actuators are a basic technology; however, unlike in the macroscopic world, where there are well tested actuation systems such as hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motors, in the micro world no similar systems exist. The aim of this project is the development of a micro actuator that possesses many of the benefits of traditional pneumatic systems (but miniaturised for operation on micro scale) and this will be achieved through the use of metal hydride (MH) technology. Traditionally MH actuators have had very low (several seconds) bandwidths making them unsuited to most controlled tasks. Recently, however, Ross et al. working through a EU consortium have produced a new series of metal hydrides with greatly increased sorption kinetics. This, combined with the low volume of gas required to operate, makes the production of micro MH actuators with acceptable dynamics a possibility. The project will study the dynamic response of the metal hydrides and enhance their performance with regard to the low mass and volume needed in the proposed micro actuators. A method of controlling the absorption and desorption of hydrogen will be developed and bandwidth, displacement and force tests conducted on a test micro actuator.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.salford.ac.uk |