Publications de Sean Thomas | EPFL Graph Search

Fabrication and Characterization of the Kirigami-Inspired SMA-Powered Actuator

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Guilain Lionel Germain Lang, Thomas Guillaume Martinez, Marjan Ghorbani

This paper presents an innovative approach to creating Shape Memory Alloys (SMA)-based actuators that are lightweight, compact, and capable of providing large strokes. Inspired by the Kirigami structure, an SMA actuator is designed using the Ω -pattern, wh ...

2023

Synthesis of Novel Integrated Actuators Powered by Shape Memory Alloys

Sean Thomas

In the modern age of miniaturisation, Smart Materials, a type of material that reacts mechanically to a certain stimulus, have become an integral part of this revolution. Among these materials, Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), which have the highest volumetric ...

EPFL2022

A Self-Biasing Shape Memory Alloy Gripper for Lightweight Applications

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Adrien Jean-Michel Thabuis, Gabriel Maquignaz

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are a type of smart material that are commonly used in compact and lightweight linear actuators. Paired with compliant motion conversion mechanisms, these alloys can be transformed into lightweight grippers ideal for applications ...

IEEE2021

Modelling and Fabrication of a Kirigami-Inspired Shape Memory Alloy Actuator

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Thomas Guillaume Martinez, Marjan Ghorbani

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) based actuators have increasingly been used in lightweight and compact actuators. In this paper, a novel kirigami-inspired SMA actuator is designed and presented. This work aims to show a novel way of fabricating large stroke flex ...

IEEE2021

Control-Free Mechanical Oscillator Powered by Shape Memory Alloys

Paolo Germano, Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Thomas Guillaume Martinez

Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) based actuators have been commonly used in applications that require being compact and lightweight. In this paper, the inherent stiffness of a flexure-based linear guide is used to create a bias-spring SMA actuator which further re ...

IEEE2021

An untethered mechanically-intelligent inchworm robot powered by a shape memory alloy oscillator

Paolo Germano, Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Thomas Guillaume Martinez

Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) based actuators have become ideal candidates for use in compact and lightweight applications. These smart materials have often been referred to as artificial muscles due to their high work volume density. In this paper, a flexure-b ...

2021

Characterization and Verification of Eddy-Current Position Sensing for Magnetic Levitation

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Juan Patricio Tomás Peralta Fierro

Magnetically-levitated drives are compelling in applications where the long-lifetime operation or process chamber encapsulation is a requirement. To exploit these advantages, contactless position sensors are needed to estimate the position of the rotor. Of ...

2021

Designing compliant mechanisms composed of shape memory alloy and actuated by induction heating

Paolo Germano, Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Adrien Jean-Michel Thabuis, Thomas Guillaume Martinez

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are a type of smart materials that reacts mechanically to heat. Due to their complex behavior, they are often used in a simple geometry such as wires. This constrains the output displacement of the alloy to a simple linear contra ...

2021

Integrated, Eddy-Current-Based Sensing of Rotor Position for Magnetic Levitation

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Juan Patricio Tomás Peralta Fierro

Magnetically-levitated drives are compelling in applications where long-lifetime operation or process chamber encapsulation is a requirement. To exploit these advantages, contactless position sensors are needed for position information of the rotor. Off-th ...

IEEE2020

Shape Memory Effect of Benchmark Compliant Mechanisms Designed With Topology Optimization

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Adrien Jean-Michel Thabuis, Thomas Guillaume Martinez

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are a class of Smart Materials that are ideal for creating compact actuators. The complex nature of their behavior results in the use of these materials in simple geometries (wires, sheets) limiting their performances. A design me ...

IEEE2020

Multi-Output Compliant Shape Memory Alloy Bias-Spring Actuators

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Adrien Jean-Michel Thabuis, Thomas Guillaume Martinez

Smart Materials such as Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) play a major role in creating Smart Actuators that are compact and high performing. Traditional SMA bias-spring actuators are only capable of a single linear output. Using topology optimization, compliant S ...

IEEE2020

Design Analysis of a Shape Memory Alloy Bias-Spring Linear Actuator

Yves Perriard, Sean Thomas, Morgan Almanza

This paper aims to adapt the well established Brinson model for the thermoelastic behaviour of the Shape Memory Effect (SME) so as to compare it to a custom shape memory material modelled using an finite element modelling software. In this work, the Brinso ...

IEEE2019

Actuation Displacement Analysis of a Self-Switching Shape Memory Alloy Buckled Beam

Yves Perriard, Yoan René Cyrille Civet, Sean Thomas, Morgan Almanza

This paper aims to simulate using Finite Element Modelling (FEM), a self-activating bistable buckled beam actuator using SMAs. In this work, various parameters such as the dimensions of the beam, shape geometry are studied to determine their effects on the ...

2018

Analysis and Reduction of Time Response in Thermally Activated Shape Memory Alloys

Yves Perriard, Yoan René Cyrille Civet, Mario Joe Lehmann, Raphaël Johannes Charles Mottet, Sean Thomas

This paper aims to study the factors that affect the time response of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) and establish a method to improve their activation times. In this work, different parameters such as the number, positions and orientation of the perforations o ...

2018