Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40731499›Full record

ArticleMaterials (Basel, Switzerland)2025

A Piezoelectric-Actuated Variable Stiffness Miniature Rotary Joint.

Yifan Lu, Yifei Yang, Xiangyu Ma, Ce Chen, Tong Qin, Honghao Yue, Siqi Ma

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Materials (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Piezoelectric Actuators for Compliant Mechanisms.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yifan LuState Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0661-3372
Yifei YangState Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.
Xiangyu MaState Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.
Ce ChenConstruction Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Guangxi Construction Engineering Group, Nanning 530299, China.
Tong QinConstruction Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Guangxi Construction Engineering Group, Nanning 530299, China.
Honghao YueState Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.
Siqi MaState Key Laboratory of Robotics and System, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.

Funding

Major Science and Technology Projects of Nanning City 20221242National Natural Science Foundation of China 52375049
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

With the acceleration of industrialization, deformable mechanisms that can adapt to complex environments have gained widespread applications. Joints serve as carriers for transmitting forces and motions between components, and their stiffness significantly influences the static and dynamic characteristics of deformable mechanisms. A variable stiffness joint is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of the system, as well as for enhancing environmental adaptability. However, existing variable stiffness joints fail to meet the requirements for miniaturization, lightweight construction, and fast response. This paper proposes a piezoelectric-actuated variable stiffness miniature rotary joint featuring a compact structure, monitorable loading state, and rapid response. Given that the piezoelectric stack expands and contracts when energized, this paper proposes a transmission principle for stiffness adjustment by varying the pressure and friction between active and passive components. This joint utilizes a flexible hinge mechanism for displacement amplification and incorporates a torque sensor based on strain monitoring. A static model is developed based on piezoelectric equations and displacement amplification characteristics, and simulations confirm the feasibility of the stiffness adjustment scheme. The mechanical characteristics of various flexible hinge structures are analyzed, and the effects of piezoelectric actuation capability and external load on stiffness adjustment are examined. The experimental results demonstrate that the joint can adjust stiffness, and the sensor is calibrated using the least squares algorithm to monitor the stress state of the joint in real time.

Indexed as

actuationminiaturepiezoelectricrotary jointvariable stiffness

Identifiers

PMID40731499
PMCPMC12298315

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.