CONTRACTING MEMBER POSITION CONTROL AND/OR STATE MONITORING

A state of a contracting member (e.g., a shape memory material member) in an actuator can be monitored. When activated, the actuator can be configured to morph into an activated configuration in which a dimension of the actuator increases. A sensor can be configured to acquire sensor data. The sensor can be a strain gauge. The contracting member can operatively engage the sensor. One or more processors can be operatively connected to monitor a state of the shape memory material member based on the sensor data.