What Is an Actuator?
Whether you realize it or not, you make use of actuators daily. They are a vital component of many of the things required to keep our civilization and bodies working properly. Actuator is a very broad term that encompasses a huge assortment of different devices that all have the common element of making other objects move in some way.
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Function
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An actuator takes one of several different types of energy and then converts it from its original form into a force that can cause an object to be moved. The movement caused by the created force can be oscillatory, linear or even rotary motion, which gives actuators a wide range of applications in many diverse fields.
Features
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The most prevalent use of the motion created by actuators is to fuel the up-and-down movement needed from pistons in any standard motor found in a car or lawn mower. It can also used to open valves or to change switches to an "On" or "Off" position. The scientific principles behind actuators can be used in reverse as well, so that an actuator stops motion from occurring by compressing two objects together or closing a lid over a hole.
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Types
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Actuators can be created in a huge range of settings, depending on the type of energy that is fed into them. The most common sources of energy for an actuator are compressed air, electricity, or a combination of the two. Some devices are capable of becoming actuators if they are powered by other energy sources such as heat.
Misconceptions
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An actuator does not have to be mechanical or cause movement in a mechanical device; it can also power hydraulic movement. Some naturally occurring objects are also considered actuators, such as muscle tissue--which converts energy from the food you eat into the ability to move your extremities.
Benefits
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The small-scale actuators in the human body and motorized devices can be used on a much larger scale to provide much bigger or more frequent movements, such as the automation of repetitive tasks in power plants or refineries. They can also be used to replicate human motions in robotics to create lifelike hand, leg, arm and finger movements.
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Resources
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