In active mechanical systems (mechanisms or structures) the possibility of a coupling between active and passive elements at an early stage of the design process is becoming more and more significant. In order to integrate actuators in preliminary design procedures, or in a multidisciplinary optimization approach, reliable models of the actuator performance (actuator force and stroke, loading curves, strength limit, volume and mass specific work and power, frequency range, efficiency) as a function of the design parameters and variables (actuator principle, size of the actuator element) are necessary.

Design Rules for Actuators in Active Mechanical Systems deals with the formulation of model-based design rules to be used in the conception of optimized mechatronic and adaptronic systems. The book addresses the comparison of different actuator classes for given applications and offers answers to the following questions:

. What is the relationship between actuator geometry and primary output quantities?

. How scalable are actuators based on the same principle?

. How are energetic output quantities (work and power) related to mechanical load and geometry?

. How should actuators be designed and sized to obtain the best performance for the chosen actuator kind, and for a given application?

Design Rules for Actuators in Active Mechanical Systems will be of use to industry professionals, such as actuator and machine designers, as well as to researchers and students of mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and electrical engineering.

Oriol Gomis-Bellmunt is a lecturer at the Technical University of Catalonia, Spain, where he teaches courses related to electrical engineering, automation and mechatronics. He also performs research with the CITCEA-UPC group in actuator design principles, modeling, drive and control of piezoelectric actuators and electrical machines, and wind turbine control. He was formerly a researcher for DLR, German Aerospace Center and an electrical and control engineer with Engitrol.

Lucio Flavio Campanile is leader of the Smart Materials and Systems Group of the Mechanics for Modeling and Simulation Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa). Prevously he was a research for University of Rome "La Sapienza" and DLR, German Aerospace Center. He has been a member of the International Organising Committee of the International Conference on Adaptive Structures and Technologies (ICAST) since 2002.

"Design Rules for Actuators in Active Mechanical Systems" deals with the formulation of model-based design rules to be used in the conception of optimized mechatronic and adaptronic systems. The book addresses the comparison of different actuator classes for given applications and offers answers to the following questions: What is the relationship between actuator geometry and primary output quantities? How scalable are actuators based on the same principle? How are energetic output quantities (work and power) related to mechanical load and geometry? How should actuators be designed and sized to obtain the best performance for the chosen actuator kind, and for a given application?

"Design Rules for Actuators in Active Mechanical Systems" will be of use to industry professionals, such as actuator and machine designers, as well as to researchers and students of mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and electrical engineering.