Kenji Uchino, a pioneer in piezoelectric actuators, is the Founding Director of the International Center for Actuators and Transducers (ICAT) and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. He was Associate Director ('Navy Ambassador to Japan') at The US Office of Naval Research - Global Tokyo Office as IPA from 2010 till 2014. He was also the Founder and Senior Vice President & CTO of Micromechatronics Inc., State College, PA.

Uchino presents in this updated Second Edition, a theoretical description of solid-state actuators, an overview of practical materials, device designs, drive/control techniques, and typical applications, as we consider current and future trends in the field of micromechatronics.

1. Current Trends for Actuators and Micromechatronics. 2. A Theoretical Description of Piezoelectricity. 3. Actuator Materials. 4. Ceramic Fabrication Methods and Actuator Structures. 5. Drive/Control Techniques for Piezoelectric Actuators. 6. Computer Simulation of Piezoelectric Devices. 7. Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Systems. 8. Servo Displacement Transducer Applications. 9. Pulse Drive Motor Applications. 10. Ultrasonic Motor Applications. 11. The Future of Solid State Actuators in Micromechatronic Systems.