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An actuator assembly and method for making and using an actuator assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly includes an actuator body having an actuator channel with a first region and a second region. An actuator is disposed in the actuator channel and is movable when in a flowable state between a f

An actuator assembly and method for making and using an actuator assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly includes an actuator body having an actuator channel with a first region and a second region. An actuator is disposed in the actuator channel and is movable when in a flowable state between a first position and a second position. A heater is positioned proximate to the actuator channel to heat the actuator from a solid state to a flowable state. A source of gas or other propellant is positioned proximate to the actuator channel to drive the actuator from the first position to the second position. The actuator has a higher surface tension when engaged with the second region of the channel than when engaged with the first region. Accordingly, the actuator can halt upon reaching the second region of the channel due to the increased surface tension between the actuator and the second region of the channel.

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1. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:heating the actuator in an actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state; moving the actuator within the actuator channel from a first position to a second position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the a

1. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:heating the actuator in an actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state; moving the actuator within the actuator channel from a first position to a second position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the actuator channel, the flowable portion of the actuator having a first surface tension when adjacent to the first position in the actuator channel and a second surface tension greater than the first surface tension when adjacent to the second position in the actuator channel; cooling the actuator to solidify the actuator in the second position; and moving the actuator from the second position to the first position. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising liquifying the actuator before moving the actuator from the first position to the second position.3. The method of claim 1, further comprising covering an orifice to at least restrict a flow of fluid through the orifice by moving the actuator from the first position to the second position.4. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the actuator includes applying pressurized gas to the actuator.5. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the actuator includes:heating a first hydride material to release hydrogen into the actuator channel on a first side of the actuator to drive the actuator in a first direction; heating a second hydride material to release hydrogen into the actuator channel on a second side of the actuator to drive the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction; and cooling at least one of the first and second hydride materials to reabsorb at least some of the hydrogen. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein heating the actuator includes heating a portion of the actuator that includes at least one of lead, tin, bismuth, cadmium, selenium, thallium and zinc.7. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the actuator includes moving the actuator over a surface that includes at least one of platinum, rhodium, palladium and gold.8. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the actuator from the first position to the second position includes halting motion of the actuator at the second position by engaging the actuator with at least one of an oxide surface and a nitride surface.9. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the actuator from the second position to the first position includes reheating the actuator in the actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state, and moving the actuator within the actuator channel from the second position to the first position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the actuator channel.10. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:heating the actuator in an actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state; moving the actuator within the actuator channel from a first position to a second position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the actuator channel, wherein moving the actuator includes applying pressurized gas to the flowable portion of the actuator; and cooling the actuator to solidify the actuator in the second position. 11. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:heating the actuator in an actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state; moving the actuator within the actuator channel from a first position to a second position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the actuator channel, wherein moving the actuator includes: heating a first hydride material to release hydrogen into the actuator channel against a first side of the flowable portion of the actuator to drive the actuator in a first direction; heating a second hydride material to release hydrogen into the actuator channel against a second side of the flowable portion of the actuator to drive the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction; and cooling at least one of the first and second hydride materials to reabsorb at least some of the hydrogen; and cooling the actuator to solidify the actuator in the second position. 12. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:heating the actuator in an actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state, wherein heating the actuator includes heating a portion of the actuator that includes at least one of lead, tin, bismuth, cadmium, selenium, thallium and zinc; moving the actuator within the actuator channel from a first position to a second position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the actuator channel, the flowable portion of the actuator having a first surface tension when at the first position in the actuator channel and a second surface tension greater than the first surface tension when adjacent to the second position in the actuator channel; and cooling the actuator to solidify the actuator in the second position. 13. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:heating the actuator in an actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state; moving the actuator within the actuator channel from a first position to a second position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the actuator channel, wherein moving the actuator includes applying pressurized gas to the flowable portion of the actuator to move the actuator over a surface that includes at least one of platinum, rhodium, palladium and gold; and cooling the actuator to solidify the actuator in the second position. 14. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:heating the actuator in an actuator channel from a solid state to a flowable state; moving the actuator within the actuator channel from a first position to a second position with a flowable portion of the actuator in contact with surfaces of the actuator channel, wherein moving the actuator from the first position to the second position includes halting motion of the actuator at the second position by engaging the actuator with at least one of an oxide surface and a nitride surface; and cooling the actuator to solidify the actuator in the second position. 15. A method for controlling an actuator, comprising:liquefying the actuator in an actuator channel by heating the actuator; heating a hydride source to release hydrogen gas into the actuator channel; driving the hydrogen gas against the liquefied actuator to move the liquefied actuator within a first region of the actuator channel from a first position toward a second position, the liquefied actuator having a first surface tension when in the first region of the actuator channel; halting motion of the liquefied actuator within the actuator channel by engaging the liquefied actuator with a second region of the actuator channel, the liquefied actuator having a second surface tension greater than the first surface tension adjacent to the second region of the actuator channel; and solidifying the liquefied actuator in the second position by cooling the actuator. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising moving the actuator back and forth between the first position and the second position at a rate of up to at least 1,000 cycles per second.17. The method of claim 15 wherein heating a hydride source includes heating a first hydride source to release hydrogen gas into the actuator channel on a first side of the liquefied actuator to move the liquefied actuator in a first direction, and further comprising heating a second hydride source to release hydrogen gas into the actuator channel on a second side of the actuator to move the liquefied actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction.18. The method of claim 15 wherein heating a hydride source includes heating a first hydride source to release hydrogen gas into the actuator channel on a first side of the liquefied actuator to move the liquefied actuator in a first direction, and further comprising:heating a second hydride source to release hydrogen gas into the actuator channel on a second side of the actuator to move the liquefied actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction; and cooling at least one of the first and second hydride sources to reabsorb at least some of the hydrogen. 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising covering an orifice to at least restrict a flow of fluid through the orifice by moving the actuator from the first position to the second position.20. The method of claim 15 wherein liquefying the actuator includes heating a portion of the actuator that includes at least one of lead, tin, bismuth, cadmium, selenium, thallium and zinc.21. The method of claim 15, wherein moving the actuator includes moving the actuator over a surface that includes at least one of platinum, rhodium, palladium and gold.22. The method of claim 15 wherein halting motion of the liquefied actuator at the second position includes engaging the liquefied actuator with at least one of an oxide surface and a nitride surface.