• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 2006

This paper presents the development and application of a conducting shape memory polyurethane (CSMPU) actuator. While conventional shape memory polyurethanes were activated by external heat source, conducting shape memory polyurethanes introduced in 2004 are activated by electric power. Conducting shape memory polyurethane actuators were manufactured by adding carbon nano tube to conventional shape memory polyurethane. The main problem of the CSMPU developed in 2004 was bad dispersion of carbon nano tubes. In this paper, we tried to find how to solve the dispersion problem, and with a lot of elaborative works, conducting shape memory polyurethane actuators which had better electrical characteristics were developed. Then the actuation performance of the conducting shape memory polyurethane actuators was also measured and assessed. Finally, the possibility of applications were examined through the installation to Micro Air Vehicle.