Actuator comprising electro permanent magnet and method

Actuator comprising:

• at least one base section;
• at least one permanent magnet arranged in the base section;
• at least one electro permanent magnet arranged in the base section, the at least one electro permanent magnet being configured to switch a polarity between a first polarity and a second polarity when being subjected to a magnetic field and configured to maintain the polarity when the magnetic field is removed;
• a coil located around the electro permanent magnet;
• a power controller configured to apply a current pulse to the coil to generate the magnetic field for changing the polarization of the electro permanent magnet;
• and
• a movable member comprising at least one magnetic target section, the movable member being arranged to move to a first position relative to the base section, when the electro permanent magnet adopts the first polarity, and arranged to move to a second position relative to the base section due to a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet and the electro permanent magnet in combination and acting on the magnetic target section, when the electro permanent magnet adopts the second polarity;
• wherein each of the at least one electro permanent magnet is hollow and the movable member is arranged to move within each of the at least one electro permanent magnet.