Optimized control of field current in thermoelastic actuator for accurate setting of position

A novel device for control of position working with accuracies on the order of 10−5-10−3 m is proposed. The device has no movable parts. It works with an inductively heated metal cylindrical element of appropriate dimensions, whose longitudinal dilatation of thermoelastic origin is controlled by the harmonic field current in the inductor. The principal aim of the paper is to find such a time evolution of the field current that allows reaching the required dilatation in the shortest time possible.