Adaptronics as a key technology for intelligent lightweight structures

Adaptronics is a new and highly innovative technology in mechanical enginee ring. The main objectives are active noise and vibration control, active fo rm and positioning control, and health monitoring. This concept starts from the development of adaptive systems which, due to their self-regulating me chanisms, are able to self-adapt to different external conditions. This req uires a system-optimized linking of sensors and actuators on the basis of n ew functional materials, such as piezoceramic fibers and patches with adapt ive controllers. Adaptronic structures fulfill both lend-bearing and actuat or/sensor functions and, hence, are multifunctional. Therefore, adaptronics will become an essential prerequisite for further development of ultraligh t structures.