Actuators are usually drive components that convert an electrical signal (commands issued by the control computer) into mechanical movements or changes in physical quantities such as pressure or temperature and thus actively intervene in the controlled process.
It is a branch of drive technology that deals with the actuator as a technical element. The term actuator generally encompasses the generation of movement or deformation and is therefore important for various technical disciplines, for example in control engineering, automation technology or mechatronics. In the classical sense, actuators can be any kind of motion generation:
- Mechanical: rotation of a steering column by hand
- Pneumatic by means of a pneumatic cylinder
- Hydraulically by means of a hydraulic cylinder
- Electromechanical: rotation of a shaft, nut or threaded spindle by an electric motor that serves as a drive element or translation of the moving component of a linear system
- Biological: Stimulation of a muscle fiber
- Optical: Display Elements
- Thermal: heaters, Peltier elements or flat thin bending actuators based on shape memory alloys
The user interface of electromechanical actuators is often a wired remote control or a wireless remote control. A specialization of actuators as a science has taken place in recent years.
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Actuators: Areas of Application
Actuators are the signal converter-related counterpart to sensors in measurement and control technology and form the actuators in a control loop. During a control process, they convert the signals into effects – through mechanical work during motion control – with which the control variable is influenced. An example is the opening and closing of a valve or ventilation damper.
In robotics, the term effector is often used interchangeably instead of actuator. Thus, the last element of a kinematic chain is also called the end effector. In a robot, for example, this actuator or effector is used to grasp and manipulate objects, thus creating an effect.
In some areas of mechatronics, such as actuators or linear technology, electromechanical drives, for example for lifting and adjustment systems, are used, which are generally referred to as actuators. The stepper motor of the read/write head of a hard disk or the compensating carriage of a stationary pendulum also represent an actuator. When controlling the process, a distinction is made between an open and a closed loop.
Linear Actuators
Important in robotics. Linear actuator refers to all drive systems that result in translational motion. Linear actuators enable the movement of machines (elements) and plant (parts) in a straight line or another predetermined course.
Illustration is probably by firgelliauto.com, they sell linear actuators as well as required controllers for Arduino
The maximum travel range of linear actuators can be increased by connecting several actuators in series, as in telescopic actuators. Linear actuators can also be used to generate non-linear movements, e.g. via crankshafts or with the help of a hexapod.
