{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/127066"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/127066","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Shape memory alloy rotary actuator for CubeSat deployable structures","abstract":"Small satellites have lowered the barrier to entry for space-bound science and technology demonstrations. However, the small form factor requires extremely low size, weight, and power for any on-board hardware. Precision actuation of deployable structures has previously been achievable only through low SWaP single-use actuators or motor-driven, high SWaP multiple-use actuators. The Folded Lightweight Actuated Positioning System has the potential to provide an ultra-lightweight multiple-use actuator by using a Joule-heated shape memory alloy-based hinge. The hinge uses two shape memory alloy strips which are trained in opposite directions and mounted into a rotary actuator. Two different shape memory alloy geometries are explored: a rectangular cross-section and a circular cross-section. The rectangular hinge actuates over a range of ±20° with an average power of 0.14 W. The circular hinge actuates over a range of ±23° with an average power of 0.073 W. A closed-loop controller uses pulse width modulation and encoder measurements to actuate the rectangular hinge to within 2' of the desired angle.","abstract_html":"Small satellites have lowered the barrier to entry for space-bound science and technology demonstrations. However, the small form factor requires extremely low size, weight, and power for any on-board hardware. Precision actuation of deployable structures has previously been achievable only through low SWaP single-use actuators or motor-driven, high SWaP multiple-use actuators. The Folded Lightweight Actuated Positioning System has the potential to provide an ultra-lightweight multiple-use actuator by using a Joule-heated shape memory alloy-based hinge. The hinge uses two shape memory alloy strips which are trained in opposite directions and mounted into a rotary actuator. Two different shape memory alloy geometries are explored: a rectangular cross-section and a circular cross-section. The rectangular hinge actuates over a range of ±20° with an average power of 0.14 W. The circular hinge actuates over a range of ±23° with an average power of 0.073 W. A closed-loop controller uses pulse width modulation and encoder measurements to actuate the rectangular hinge to within 2&#x27; of the desired angle.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Chun, Katherine S.(Katherine Shisuka)"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":"Master","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Kerri Cahoy."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020","date_published":"2020","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:15Z","subjects":["Aeronautics and Astronautics."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided."],"rights_urls":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127066","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Kerri Cahoy."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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Precision actuation of deployable structures has previously been achievable only through low SWaP single-use actuators or motor-driven, high SWaP multiple-use actuators. The Folded Lightweight Actuated Positioning System has the potential to provide an ultra-lightweight multiple-use actuator by using a Joule-heated shape memory alloy-based hinge. The hinge uses two shape memory alloy strips which are trained in opposite directions and mounted into a rotary actuator. Two different shape memory alloy geometries are explored: a rectangular cross-section and a circular cross-section. The rectangular hinge actuates over a range of ±20° with an average power of 0.14 W. The circular hinge actuates over a range of ±23° with an average power of 0.073 W. A closed-loop controller uses pulse width modulation and encoder measurements to actuate the rectangular hinge to within 2' of the desired angle."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Shape memory alloy rotary actuator for CubeSat deployable structures"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Kerri Cahoy."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics","Aero"],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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The Folded Lightweight Actuated Positioning System has the potential to provide an ultra-lightweight multiple-use actuator by using a Joule-heated shape memory alloy-based hinge. The hinge uses two shape memory alloy strips which are trained in opposite directions and mounted into a rotary actuator. Two different shape memory alloy geometries are explored: a rectangular cross-section and a circular cross-section. The rectangular hinge actuates over a range of ±20° with an average power of 0.14 W. The circular hinge actuates over a range of ±23° with an average power of 0.073 W. A closed-loop controller uses pulse width modulation and encoder measurements to actuate the rectangular hinge to within 2' of the desired angle."],"dc:description.degree":["S.M."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127066"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Aeronautics and Astronautics."],"dc:title":["Shape memory alloy rotary actuator for CubeSat deployable structures"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:15Z"}