Sparse Actuator

Sparse actuator research focuses on achieving complex functionalities with a minimal number of actuators, reducing cost and complexity while maintaining performance. Current efforts involve developing sophisticated control algorithms, such as simulated annealing and combined local/global search strategies, to optimize the limited actuators' performance and precisely control their interaction, often modeling the system's behavior to predict and achieve desired outcomes. This approach is proving valuable in diverse applications, including creating high-fidelity tactile feedback in handheld devices and enabling programmable shape changes in flexible robotic systems through innovative materials like electroadhesive auxetics.