— Industries — Aerospace
Shape memory alloy actuation for aerospace
High work density, minimal moving parts, and simplified architectures — SMA actuation built for an industry that counts every gram.
— Built to fly
A high-torque SMA rotary actuator, developed with The Boeing Company
In an article published in Shape Memory and Superelasticity, Kinitics and Boeing present a novel rotary actuator using shape memory alloy technology. Designed for a 777 ram air door application, it has been demonstrated to be scalable across a broad spectrum of aerospace use cases.
Aircraft systems continue to push for reduced weight, compactness, and simplified architectures. Traditional electromechanical or hydraulic actuators often require linkages, gearing, and structural integration that add mass, complexity, and failure points. SMA materials — particularly NiTi-based alloys — offer high work density in a fraction of the space.
— What it takes
Built for weight, reliability, and simplicity budgets
- High work density — high force from a compact, lightweight package.
- One moving part — no gearing, linkages, or backlash.
- Positioning precision — with controllable position and force.
- Electrically powered — simplified system architecture.
- Near-silent operation — no motor noise or vibration signature.
- Proven endurance — consistent performance across millions of cycles.
— Key differentiators
What SMA actuation changes in an airframe
Mass and complexity down
Replaces motor, gearbox, and linkage stacks with a compact SMA drive — fewer parts, fewer failure points, less structural integration.
Scalable by design
Demonstrated on a 777 ram air door and scalable across a broad spectrum of aerospace use cases, rotary and linear alike.
Precision without backlash
SMA drive delivers smooth, repeatable motion with fine force control — no lead screws, no ball screws, no play.
— Where it fits
Example applications
- Ram air door rotary actuation
- Precision positioning
- Gripping and clamping
- Clutch and brake systems
- Compact linear actuation
- Valve operation
— The platform
One shape memory alloy platform, three products
KVA38
Valve actuator
Zero-deadband, spring-loaded electric valve actuator with fail-safe closure — certified for hazardous locations.
KLA
Linear actuator
Up to 650 N from a high force-to-size ratio design — one moving part, near-silent, 5 µm precision.
KPP
Piston pumps
Rated to 100 bar (1450 psi), with displacement, flow, or pressure control via optional sensors.
Designing actuation for an airframe?
Tell us about your motion, force, and envelope requirements and we’ll explore what SMA can do for your application.