An extreme operation submarine robot actuated by shape memory alloy. For developing the submarine resources.

Abstract

An advanced submarine robot model actuated by the driving force in thermo-mechanical transformation of shape memory alloy (SMA) was developed jointly by the engineering faculty of Tohoku University and Honda Seiki Co., Ltd.. A model “robot crab” about 1/20 of practical size was constructed with the artificial muscles of Ni-Ti SMA springs or wires in the every joint parts of the moving legs and it moves by electrical pulse currents with microcomputer controls. It is simple in structure and is also characterized by high strength, high water-pressure and corrosion resistance. It has more rapid motion under water than in air due to the high cooling capacity of water. Based on these characteristics and the advantages of SMA actuator, we have proposed and developed an extreme operation SMA robot model to investigate and collect very deep submarine resources. We also talk about the possibility, some technical problems and necessity for international cooperation in harvesting the deep submarine resources by this type SMA robot in near future.