Shape memory alloy locking apparatuses

A locking apparatus comprising:

• a support assembly;
• a rotatable shaft comprising a lug;
• and
• a pawl configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein a first end of the pawl is attached to the support assembly such that a second end of the pawl is movable between a locked position that prevents the rotatable shaft from rotating via engagement of the second end of the pawl with a lug of the rotatable shaft and an unlocked position that allows the rotatable shaft to rotate via disengagement of the second end of the pawl from the lug,
• wherein the pawl is a shape memory alloy (SMA) beam,
• wherein the first end of the pawl is a first end of the SMA beam,
• wherein the second end of the pawl is a second end of the SMA beam,
• wherein attaching the first end of the pawl to the support assembly comprises attaching the first end of the SMA beam to the support assembly via at least one fastener,
• wherein, when the SMA beam is activated, the SMA beam takes on the first configuration and moves the second end of the pawl to the locked position, and
• wherein, when the SMA beam is deactivated, the SMA beam takes on the second configuration and moves the second end of the pawl from the locked position to the unlocked position.

A locking apparatus comprising:

• a support assembly;
• a rotatable shaft comprising a lug;
• and
• a pawl comprised entirely of a shape memory alloy (SMA) material and configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein a first end of the pawl is attached to the support assembly such that a second end of the pawl is movable between a locked position that prevents the rotatable shaft from rotating via engagement of the second end of the pawl with a lug of the rotatable shaft and an unlocked position that allows the rotatable shaft to rotate via disengagement of the second end of the pawl from the lug,
• wherein, when the SMA material is activated, the pawl takes on the first configuration and the second end of the pawl moves to the locked position, and
• wherein, when the SMA material is deactivated, the pawl takes on the second configuration and the second end of the pawl moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.