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About

Austin Gurley is a leading researcher in the field of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, with a focus on advancing their application in robotics and miniaturized devices. His primary research areas include robust self-sensing techniques, actuator control, and innovative SMA-based textile designs. Gurley’s most significant contribution is the development of a dual measurement self-sensing technique for NiTi actuators, which allows the actuator to function simultaneously as both a motor and a position sensor—a breakthrough that reduces cost and size in robotic systems. His seminal 2017 paper on this topic has garnered 22 citations, underscoring its impact. He further refined this approach in a 2016 study, demonstrating robust performance under varying temperatures and loads. Gurley also explored novel SMA architectures, such as woven fabrics (2018), and addressed practical deployment challenges with Bowden tube NiTi actuators (2017), integrating linear parameter varying models and sliding mode control to amplify strain for larger displacements. His work bridges fundamental material science and practical engineering, offering scalable solutions for aerospace, biomedical, and robotic applications.