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Controlling Flexinol Muscle Wires with ez430 RF2500e

Mina Ibrahim
Prodigy 60 points

Good morning all,

I am attempting for my final thesis to build a miniature climbing robot, and given that it is going to be miniature, I have selected muscle wires for some simple linear actuation. 
For the muscle wires, I have selected the TI ez430 RF2500, it's task will be as simple as providing an on/off switch to five muscle wires circuits but not simultaneously.
However, I selected the controller, to satisfy the dimensions requirement, even though this sort of puts me in a rough spot with the current output of the pins, given that for the muscle wire diameter I have selected (250µm) it requires a full 1 ampere to be activated.
Of course i have thought of mosfet transistors and so, but I am a bit baffled of how to calculate the circuit as I am originally a mechanical engineer.
I do not know if the solution i thought of is applicable or not, so the question is, have any tried before anything similar to what I am saying ?
Or is it possible to do so? If yes, can you please provide me with the methodology?
Also, If there is anybody who worked with ez430 RF2500 or similar in robotics, can you please provide me with tips or pitfalls that you encountered along your way?

Thanks a lot in advance, i wish you all a great day,
Mina

  • 0
    Prodigy 20 points

    Good morning Mina,

    #1: Flexinol is a great choice to use! There is a learning curve but Flexinol wire works.

    #2: I chose the PCB from Pololu also that matches the Flexinol wire using PWM as control.

    The Controller is at http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1221

    Don Nagy :-)

    949 258 3451

  • 0 in reply to Donald Nagy
    Prodigy 60 points

    Thanks Don so much,

    The thing is :

    1- I already purchased the controller

    2- The ez340 RF2500 offers wireless connectivity with the host computer, Built in of course with no need of any external addendum.

    However, If building the circuit switch using the target board of the ez340 RF2500 failed, I will probably go with your suggestion, do you know if there is any products of Pololu that has the SAME dimensions as your suggestion, but offers any kind of wireless connectivity?

     Again many thanks,

    Mina

  • 0 in reply to Mina Ibrahim
    Prodigy 20 points
    - as long as you have the hardware - go with it. - Pololu.com does have a wifi and blue tooth solutions but the units that I have built - the client wanted a wired connection to the laptop to be programmed with parameters then unplug to operate as a stand alone unit. I think it was a security issue rather than convenience. - Dynalloy inc. that makes flexinol ( to me ) is a local company and if possible visit the plant for good ideas and working examples. Don :-)

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