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@article{188518,
        author = {VARAD JAGDALE and Saiyyam Jain and Shreya Hule and Chirag Godhwani and Mayuresh Jadhav},
        title = {Thermal Management–Driven Performance Enhancement of SMA-Actuated Micro-Grippers: A Comparative Study of Air, Forced-Air, and Water Cooling},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {12},
        number = {7},
        pages = {2787-2795},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=188518},
        abstract = {Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), particularly Nitinol, are widely applied in soft robotic effectors due to their compact actuation capability, high power density, and ability to generate smooth. Despite these advantages, SMA actuators are fundamentally limited by their cooling rate, which directly affects actuation frequency and system responsiveness. This study experimentally investigates the thermal and actuation behaviour of a single SMA-driven robotic finger under two distinct cooling conditions: fan-assisted forced-air cooling and water-assisted cooling. The SMA wire was subjected to repeated heating–cooling cycles, and key performance parameters—including cooling duration, recovery dynamics, deformation consistency, and cycle repeatability—were systematically measured and analysed. Results include fatigue testing cycles of water cooling, air cooling and natural cooling. We also compared theoretical values and practical values of the current, voltage and temperature of SMA wire. The comparative evaluation provides an in-depth understanding of how different external cooling environments influence SMA actuator performance, offering valuable insights toward the development of faster, more efficient, and highly responsive SMA-based soft robotic systems.},
        keywords = {Shape Memory Alloy, Nitinol, SMA Actuation, Cooling Analysis, Fan Cooling, Water Cooling, Forced-Air Cooling, Soft Robotics, Thermal Response.},
        month = {December},
        }