Intevia FAQ

Smart Actuator

Q. What does the smart actuator do?

A. The smart actuator is the element within the fastener that provides the force needed to actuate (i.e. lock or unlock) the fastening mechanism.

Q. How does the smart actuator work?

A. Typically the actuator uses smart materials technology such as shape memory alloys or polymers, piezoelectric materials, electrostrictive materials and magnetostrictive materials to achieve efficient and cost-effective actuation. In contrast, conventional actuation methodologies such as electric motors, solenoids and bi-metallic strips are generally power hungry, bulky, noisy and expensive to produce.

Q. What does the current range of Intevia^® intelligent fastening solutions use for actuation?

A. The Intevia^® intelligent fastening mechanisms developed to date, use shape memory alloys, such as Nitinol wire or springs to achieve effective actuation. Nitinol can repeatedly provide up to 6% strain recovery (shrinkage) and thereby generate a high tensile force when energized to a specific transition temperature. It is a relatively low cost, compact and extremely durable actuation methodology.