Fuel pump operated by means of a shape memory material

A fuel pump for an internal combustion engine; the fuel pump is equipped with at least one pumping chamber with variable volume; with at least one inlet valve communicating with the pumping chamber; with at least one outlet valve communicating with the pumping chamber; with at least one flexible membrane that delimits the pumping chamber; and with an actuating device that acts on the flexible membrane to cyclically vary the volume of the pumping chamber; the actuating device presents at least one shape memory material thet modifies its geometry upon application of an external influence of a physical nature and is mechanically coupled with the flexible membrane, and a piloting device to cyclically apply an external influence of a physical nature to the shape memory material.