Sensor-Less Control of Mirror Manipulator Using Shape Memory Polyimide Composite Actuator: Experimental Work.

Integrated thin film-based shape memory polyimide composites (SMPICs) are potentially attractive for efficient and compact design, thereby offering cost-effective applications. The objective of this article is to design and evaluate a mirror manipulator using an SMPIC as an actuator and a sensor with control. A sensor-less control strategy using the SMPIC (a self-sensing actuator) with a proportional derivative combined variable structure controller (PD-VSC) is proposed for position control of the mirror in both the vertical and angular directions.