A Review of Bio-Inspired Actuators and Their Potential for Adaptive Vehicle Control

Abstract

Adaptive vehicle control systems are crucial for enhancing safety, performance, and efficiency in modern transportation, particularly as vehicles become increasingly automated and responsive to dynamic environments. This review explores the advancements in bio-inspired actuators and their potential applications in adaptive vehicle control systems. Bio-inspired actuators, which mimic natural mechanisms such as muscle movement and plant tropism, offer unique advantages, including flexibility, adaptability, and energy efficiency. This paper categorizes these actuators based on their mechanisms, focusing on shape memory alloys, dielectric elastomers, ionic polymer–metal composites, polyvinylidene fluoride-based electrostrictive actuators, and soft pneumatic actuators. The review highlights the properties, operating principles, and potential applications for each mechanism in automotive systems. Additionally, it investigates the current uses of these actuators in adaptive suspension, active steering, braking systems, and human–machine interfaces for autonomous vehicles. The review further outlines the advantages of bio-inspired actuators, including their energy efficiency and adaptability to road conditions, while addressing key challenges like material limitations, response times, and integration with existing automotive control systems. Finally, this paper discusses future directions, including the integration of bio-inspired actuators with machine learning and advancements in material science, to enable more efficient and responsive adaptive vehicle control systems.

Keywords

• shape memory alloys
• dielectric elastomer actuators
• ionic polymer–metal composites
• polyvinylidene fluoride-based electrostrictive actuators
• soft pneumatic actuators