This book provides comprehensive up-to-date overview of the modelling, control, and application problems of artificial muscles and bionic actuators, especially for ionic polymerized metal composite, shape memory alloy, pneumatic artificial muscle, and piezoelectric ceramic actuators. The book consists of seven chapters, putting forward the systematic method of establishing mathematical model, designing the control strategy, and developing the control system. It also includes interesting engineering examples of artificial muscle. This book provides a reference for readers to solve practical engineering problems by using artificial muscle and bionic driving technology.

Lina Hao obtained his doctorate in control theory and control engineering from Northeastern University, China, in 2001. From 2005 to 2006, she worked as Visiting Researcher with Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. She is currently Professor with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Northeastern University, China. Prof. Hao is Member of the International Society of Bionic Engineering and the Chinese Association of Automation System Simulation Discipline and Robot Discipline Committee. Among her current interests are the artificial muscle preparation and artificial muscle based robot system and intelligent control. Compared with rigid actuator, artificial muscle has better flexibility, human–computer interaction safety, and is more environmentally friendly. It is suitable for military, space, aerospace, medical rehabilitation, and other fields.

Ying Zhang is Lecturer of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Northeastern University, China.

Zhi Li is Professor of the Department of State Key Laboratory of Synthetical Automation for Process Industries, Northeastern University, China.