Abstract
A capsule-type micro actuator using hydrogen storage alloys (HSA-CMA) mounted on the super multi-link manipulator to capture space debris was developed as a compact, lightweight and energy saving actuator. The HSA-CMA drives by the volume change of hydrogen storage alloy induced by its hydrogen absorption and discharge. In this paper, the HSA-CMA with 10 mm diameter using palladium as hydrogen storage alloy, which has the high activity with hydrogen. Hydrogen gas was introduced into and evacuated from the sample in the vessel and its height change was measured. The obtained deformation were 25 μm after 5000 s of the hydrogen introduction and 21 μm after 14000 s of the following evacuation. From the results, it was confirmed that this actuator drove at room temperature and with low hydrogen pressure, and that it had the deformation ratio comparable to that of a piezoactuator.
