General Motors is planning to introduce a number of new smart materials into its vehicles by 2010. Shape memory alloys and polymers that remember their original shape and can return to it, open new possibilities for many vehicle features. With these new materials, functionality can be programmed in to enable innovative designs, improved efficiency, and new and improved features that will make vehicles more exciting to own and operate. Actuators and sensors made from these materials have the potential to improve vehicle performance and fuel economy and enable new comfort and convenience features. These actuators and sensors can provide significant benefits when they are used to replace conventional motorized or hydraulic devices by reducing vehicle mass, component size and complexity and improving design flexibility, functionality and reliability. The properties inherent in shape memory alloys and polymer have the potential to be game-changers in the automotive advanced materials field, eventually leading to vehicle sub-systems that can self-heal in the event of damage, or that can be designed to change color or appearance. GM's new approach to designing and evaluating systems that combine mechanisms, smart materials and electronics is called 'mechamatronics'.
Game-changers. As a nanocomposite pioneer, General Motors is now planning to introduce a number of new smart materials into its vehicles by 2010
Future Materials - fm ; Aug ; 6-7
2007
2 Seiten, 5 Bilder
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
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