Dr. Diego Fernandez Profile

Dr. Diego Fernandez

at Univ Carlos III de Madrid

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Publications (5)

Proceedings Article | 13 April 2007 Paper

Ultralight dust wiper mechanism for operation in Mars

D. Fernandez, R. Cabas, L. Moreno

Proceedings Volume 6527, 65270E (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.716924

KEYWORDS: Atmospheric particles, Sensors, Mars, Ultraviolet detectors, Particles, Optical sensors, Actuators, Ultraviolet radiation, Robotics, Solar cells

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Building on the success of the two rover geologists that arrived to Mars in January, 2004, NASA's next rover mission is planned for the end of the decade. Twice as long and three times as heavy as Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Science Laboratory rover will collect Martian soil samples and rock cores and analyze them for organic compounds and environmental conditions that could have supported microbial life now or in the past. MSL meteorological package is called REMS (Rover environmental Monitoring Station). This is a scientific instrument designed to provide in situ, near-surface measurements of Temperature (ground surface and atmosphere), Wind, Pressure, Water Vapour and Ultraviolet Radiation (UV). UV observations at the surface will provide important information necessary to asses the habitability of the near surface environment. REMS UV sensor on MSL rover shall be pointing to the Martian sky. From the beginning, deposition of dust particles on the sensor head was considered by NASA's science office a major concern. Such unpredictable phenomena may attenuate the signal received by the optical sensor, and therefore must be considered by far the largest source of error in the sensor. We have studied the error introduced by Martian dust deposition, as well as by frost formation on REMS UV sensor. Several error mitigation strategies such as the use of magnets where evaluated. Finally, a robotic dust wiper was selected as error mitigation system. An optical sensor with a dust wiper was designed, constructed and pre-qualified for MSL mission. Several brushes where fabricated and tested as to maximize its efficiency with submicron particles dust. An Engineering Model of the Sensor including the dust Wiper technology was fabricated and tested. The prototype was subjected to an early qualification campaign under MSL project requirements. Technology performance and qualification results are presented in this paper. The proposed Dust Wiper technology proves to be a simple, yet effective solution to mitigate the error caused by dust on optical sensors or solar panels operating on dirty atmospheres. Using a novel actuator technology based on SMA fibers, the solution represents a very small increase in Mass and a major improvement in system performance. The actuator technology is now being considered for industrial sectors where mass, reliability and cost reduction are key design goals.

Proceedings Article | 22 March 2006 Paper

Characterization of IPMC actuators using standard testing methods

D. Fernández, R. Espinosa, L. Moreno, J. Baselga

Proceedings Volume 6168, 616818 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.658439

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Electroactive polymers, Electrodes, Scanning electron microscopy, Testing and analysis, Polymers, Magnesium, Composites, Manufacturing, Polymeric actuators

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Proceedings Article | 1 July 2005 Paper

Actuator design using electroactive polymers

Diego Fernandez, Luis Moreno, Juan Baselga

Proceedings Volume 5836, (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.608525

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Electromechanical design, Electroactive polymers, Artificial muscles, Tissues, Polymers, Electromagnetism, Systems modeling, Biomimetics, Bone

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Proceedings Article | 6 May 2005 Paper

A bio-inspired EAP actuator design methodology

Diego Fernandez, Luis Moreno, Juan Baselga

Proceedings Volume 5759, (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.599108

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Electroactive polymers, Artificial muscles, Tissues, Biomimetics, Polymers, Bone, Polymeric actuators, Electromagnetism, Multilayers

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Proceedings Article | 6 May 2005 Paper

Toward standardization of EAP actuators test procedures

Diego Fernandez, Luis Moreno, Juan Baselga

Proceedings Volume 5759, (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.599106

KEYWORDS: Electroactive polymers, Actuators, Sensors, Electrodes, Transducers, Standards development, Aerospace engineering, Reliability, Signal generators, Polymers

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Since the field of Electroactive Polymers (EAP) actuators is fairly new there are no standard testing processes for such intelligent materials. This drawback can seriously limit the scope of application of EAP actuators, since the targeted industrial sectors (aerospace, biomedical...) demand high reliability and product assurance. As a first iteration two elements are required to define a test standard for an EAP actuator: a Unit Tester, and a Component Specification. In this paper a EAP Unit Tester architecture is presented along with the required classification of measurements to be included in the EAP actuator Component Specification. The proposed EAP Unit Tester allows on-line monitoring and recording of the following properties of the specimen under test: large deformation, small tip displacement, temperature at the electrodes, weight of the specimen, voltage and current driven into the EAP, load being applied to the actuator, output voltage of the EAP in sensing operation and mode of operation (structure/sensor/actuator/smart). The measurements are taken simultaneously, in real-time. The EAP Unit Tester includes a friendly Graphical User Interface. It uses embedded Excel tools to visualize data. In addition, real-time connectivity with MATLAB allows an easy testing of control algorithms. A novel methodology to measure the properties of EAP specimens versus a variable load is also presented. To this purpose a force signals generator in the range of mN was developed. The device is based on a DC mini-motor. It generates an opposing force to the movement of the EAP actuator. Since the device constantly opposes the EAP actuator movement it has been named Digital Force Generator (DFG). The DFG design allows simultaneous length and velocity measuring versus different load signals. By including such a device in the EAP Unit Tester the most suitable application for the specimen under test can be easily identified (vibration damper, large deformation actuator, large force actuator, fast actuator...).

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