Piezoelectric Actuators: Control Applications of Smart Materials

Citation

White, N.M. (2012), "Piezoelectric Actuators: Control Applications of Smart Materials", Assembly Automation, Vol. 32 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2012.03332aaa.009

Piezoelectric Actuators: Control Applications of Smart Materials

Piezoelectric Actuators: Control Applications of Smart Materials

Article Type: Book review From: Assembly Automation, Volume 32, Issue 1

Seung-Bok Choi and Young-Min Han,CRC Press,2010,$139.95,280 pp.,ISBN: 978-1-4398180-8-4,Web link: www.taylorandfrancis.com/books/details/9781439818084/,

Piezoelectric actuators are used in many different types of applications, ranging from ultrasonic motors to robotic grippers. An important aspect of their use is the adoption of a suitable controller, which will ensure precise positioning within a reasonable time period. This book is divided into eight chapters, each addressing a different aspect or application area associated with piezoelectric actuators.

Chapter 1 introduces the concept of using piezoelectric materials as actuators. Being only five pages in length, it is a very brief overview. I would have liked to have seen a more in-depth discussion of the various types of piezoelectric actuators, which the authors describe later in the book. There was also an opportunity here to present an overview of the pros and cons of various types, based on the authors’ personal experiences.

The fundamental strategies for piezoelectric controllers are described in Chapter 2. Approaches such as proportional-integral-derivative (PID), linear quadratic and H∞ are discussed in detail from a theoretical viewpoint. Methods for vibration control of flexible structures, such as beams, are detailed in Chapters 3 and 4. Owing to the fact that piezoelectric materials have a direct and reverse effect, the same device can be used as a sensor and actuator.

Chapter 5 provides a detailed account of control systems for robotic manipulators and presents many results, which show the effectiveness of the techniques used. Chapter 6 addresses systems for fine motion control of devices such as optical pickups for CD ROM drives and dual-servo stages.

The use of piezoelectric actuators, in areas such as micro-pumps and jet dispensers, is detailed in Chapter 7. Again the authors have focused on the control systems rather than the piezoelectric actuators. Chapter 8 shows how piezoelectric materials can be used to minimise vibration in devices such as CD ROM drives and hard disk drive spindles.

It was somewhat disappointing that the book ends without any form of summary or concluding comments. An additional chapter at the end would have allowed the authors to describe developments beyond the state of the art, and point the reader at emerging application areas and future control systems for piezoelectric actuators.

Overall, the book provides many examples of real control systems for piezoelectric actuators and gives a useful insight into the design and implementation of such systems. There is sufficient background material provided such that the non-expert should be able to follow the core concepts involved.

Neil M. WhiteHead of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK