The MFC was designed to be integrated into a system as an add-on component, or integrated during manufacturing. Its flat profile and use as both a sensor and actuator enable its use in critical or tight areas where the ability to selfpower wireless circuitry from the electricity generated from flexing the MFC enables additional health monitoring on complex rotating components, or in remote and hazardous environments.

As a conformable actuator, the MFC can be used to suppress vibration, cancel jitter or noise, or structurally stiffen or wrap the member or panel to which it is attached. Conversely, as a conformable sensor, it can sense the mechanical strains and generate the voltage signal that is proportional to the magnitude and rate of the applied load.

Since 1999, NASA has used MFC piezocomposites in a range of active vibration and shape-control applications including active damping of very large deployable spacecraft structures, buffet load alleviation on aircraft control surfaces, and controlling unsteady aerodynamics and noise on helicopter rotor blades. Sensor applications include impedance-based health monitoring of the space shuttle white room launch tower structures and the crawler/transporter roller bearings.

Recent commercial applications include energy harvesting for telemetry devices, automotive interior noise cancellation and structural damping on drive shafts, low-frequency woundhealing for medical applications, and active feedback of high-performance athletic equipment.

Recent commercial applications include energy harvesting for telemetry devices, automotive interior noise cancellation and structural damping on drive shafts, low-frequency woundhealing for medical applications, and active feedback of high-performance athletic equipment.