Comparison of improved methods for tracking movements of IPMC actuators

Abstract

A comparison of three different data-acquisition and analysis methods using image analysis for end-edge detection of IPMC actuator strips is presented in this paper. The type of mechanical movements of IPMC strips are specific and well known. This work is focused on comparing the results of the analysis of experimental measurements realized in underwater conditions when one end-edge is fixed-clapped and the other is free. The tracking techniques of the free edge are based on three different approaches, while the two of them use the new technology of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) to reduce further the processing time. The results show that the new techniques increased by 47 and 70 times the speed of detection.