IFT vs Traditional Fastening
Intelligent Fastening Technology (IFT) involves the replacement of traditional fastening devices and tools, with electrically actuated, electronically controlled fasteners and software based systems.  This allows fasteners to be installed without the requirement for physical access provisions, ie the requirement for a tool path is removed, facilitating compact, lightweight, aesthetic and cost effective product design.  The technology allows concepts such as computer based guided assembly and disassembly to be implemented, reducing the requirement for specialized operator skills for complex assembly tasks.
IFT may be applied to a wide range of applications, from traditional assembly operations where screws, bolts, nails or clips would be applied, thought to latching and locking applications where mechanical or electro-mechanical mechanisms would traditionally be used.

Benefits provided by the technology include the ability to remotely control and monitor intelligent fasteners via wireless or cable based communications networks.  This allows access control and remote status and health monitoring to be implemented.  The electronics and firmware included in the intelligent fastener provide for the monitoring of integrated or external sensors and control of auxiliary devices, adding value to any application where the devices are used.

Elements of Intelligent Fasteners
In intelligent fastener comprises three main functional elements, namely a fastening mechanism, embedded electronics and a control system.
The fastening mechanism consists of mechanical components which provide the physical attachment between two or more parts, and an electrically controllable actuator which causes the fastening mechanism to transition between the Closed/Locked and Open/Unlocked conditions.  When Closed/Locked, the attached parts are held together; when Open/Unlocked, the attached parts may be separated.  The electrically controllable actuator is typically SMA based, but electromagnetic, electrostatic and piezo-electric based actuators may be used.
The embedded electronics prove the means for controlling the actuator, by the switching of electric current form a battery or other storage device, or from a mains-derived power source.  Switching is based on Field Effect Transistor semiconductor technology, with Pulse Width Modulation or linear control for accurate control of actuator powering profiles.  A microcontroller with embedded firmware is provided for control of overall operation, with a cable or wireless interface for external network communications.  Sensing of fastener status is provided for control optimization, with auxiliary sensing and switching interfaces providing added value in typical applications.  Fastener status and health are reported via network communications.
The control system provides the means by which the fastener is controlled and monitored by an external system or human operator.  PDA or PC based software implements Intelligent Fastener network communications, and interfaces with a central database which stores fastener unique identities, parameters, access authorization codes and algorithms.  The control system monitors and logs fastener operation and health, and allows the implementation of guided assembly and disassembly procedures.