Modelling and Closed-loop Control System for Magnetorheological Elastomer Linear Actuator

Abstract

Controlling the actuator in micro to microscale positioning is the challenge in the development of smart material actuator. The design of the existing commercial piezoelectric actuator is limited due to the material properties itself such as brittle which require special packaging and protection in order to avoid creep occurred. Magnetorheological linear actuator representing a relative new class in actuator development. the flexibility in MRE material potentially overcome the limitation of the piezoelectric actuator. This paper presenting the development of closed loop control system including the dynamic model, plant model and PID controller for linear MRE actuator. The control system was successfully developed and the MRE linear actuator able to generate the displacement at certain steady state error.