A piezoelectric drive motor especially well adapted for use with flow control systems on commercial aircraft, military aircraft and spacecraft. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure that supports a piezoelectric beam. A biasing element, for example a coil spring, is coupled between a free end of the piezoelectric beam and the support structure. The spring exerts a compressive force on the beam and serves to amplify its displacement when electric signals applied to piezoelectric layers on the beam cause deflection of the beam between two stable positions. The drive motor operates over a wider band of drive frequencies than conventional piezoelectric beams and is also suitable for use as a sensor and in a wide variety of actuator applications.

 
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