Hey I'm making a hexapod robot using nitinol for movement. I've got 50 um HT flexinol wire, and I put them on each joint on both sides of it, so it works kinda like how real muscles work, contracting in opposites. I know it's not the most efficient process but, this way allows for better stability than a rigid system. I'm trying to get it to move super fast, thus the thin nitinol, but with great stability(cockroaches).

I'm really new into this whole area, but am signed up for multiple courses in robotics and am very excited to learn.

I can't get my nitinol to contract, even with just a simple circuit, I have 1 double A battery holder, attached to a 4.7 ohm resistor and when i touch the ends to the nitinol, nothing happens... I'm confused

Also I am kind of at a loss as to how I am going to acquire leg pieces. I am looking for a design that will complement and ease the stress on the nitinol wire through a bouncy design. The momentum of the bounce will ease the stress on the wires while ironically increasing stability, as it has been proven that precisely controled movement is less stable than a more random bouncing motion.

Anybody have suggestions as to what I should do? or any other pointers about the project that'd be great! I truely appreciate your time. Thank you.