sensorsactuators

Sensorsactuators are devices that integrate sensing and actuation capabilities into a single unit or package, enabling direct measurement of a physical parameter and immediate actuation in response. This combination supports closed-loop control and can reduce system size and wiring.

They can be realized with various technologies, including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), smart materials such as piezoelectric elements, electroactive polymers, and shape memory alloys, and opto-mechanical systems. They often share power electronics and signal processing to minimize interconnections and improve response speed.

Benefits include reduced latency, smaller form factors, lower assembly costs, and improved reliability in feedback loops. Challenges involve design complexity, cross-sensitivity between sensing and actuation, calibration requirements, noise and interference, temperature dependence, and power management.

Applications span robotics (grippers with integrated force sensing and actuation), automotive systems (adaptive damping and valve control with integrated sensing), consumer electronics (haptic feedback actuators with tactile sensing), medical devices (smart catheters or implants with sensing and stimulation), and industrial automation (high-precision positioning with integrated sensing).

In research and development, sensoractuators are pursued to simplify system architecture, enhance control performance, and enable new capabilities such as soft robotics and autonomous systems. They require multidisciplinary design across materials science, electronics, control theory, and systems integration to address performance, reliability, and manufacturing considerations.