Surface-micromachined and high-aspect ratio electrostatic actuators for aeronautic and space applications: design and lifetime considerations
Abstract
This paper focuses on recent advances in the field of MEMS-based actuators and distributed microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). IC-processed actuators (e.g. actuators that are machined using integrated circuit batch processes) are expected to open a wide range of industrial applications on the near term. The most promising investigations deal with high-aspect ratio electric field driven microactuators suitable for use in numerous technical fields such as aeronautics and space industry. Because the silicon micromachining technology have the potential to integrate both mechanical components and control circuits within a single process, MEMS-based active control of microscopic and macroscopic structures appears to be one of the most promising challenges for the next decade. As a first step towards new generations of MEMS-based smart structures, recent investigations dealing with silicon mechanisms involving MEMS-based actuators are briefly discussed in this paper.
- Publication:
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10th European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium
- Pub Date:
- September 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003ESASP.524..223V
- Keywords:
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- Actuators