Development Results of a Nitinol (NiTi) Angular Actuator

Shape memory alloys are key to sustainable technology and future industries, with one of the most remarkable materials at present being Nitinol (NiTi), which is known to have unique driving properties and applications, working in extreme conditions and capable of being applied in specific actuation tasks. In this context, this work presents an actuator prototype using versatile springs composed of nickel–titanium to produce angular displacements, beginning with contextual findings on the latest trends and opportunities for solutions in the field of Nitinol (NiTi) devices. Considering the research and industry concerns regarding shape memory materials and the need for research, design, and innovation in the development and investigation of various prototypes of Nitinol-based (NiTi) actuators, the functionalities, physical design, and static/dynamic performance of this newly proposed angular actuator offer strong potential. This work also presents and discusses the results of both experimental model testing and an analytical model simulation within MATLAB and Simulink R2022b.