Actuator: Difference between revisions

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An actuator is a mechanical device for moving or controlling a mechanism or system.

Examples include:

Mechanics - plasma actuators, pneumatic actuators, electric actuators, motors, hydraulic cylinders, linear actuators, etc.
Human - muscles
Biology - actuator domains found in P, F and V type ATPases
In engineering, actuators are frequently used as mechanisms to introduce motion, or to clamp an object so as to prevent motion. In electronic engineering, actuators ACTT, are a subdivision of transducers. They are devices which transform an input signal (mainly an electrical signal) into motion. Specific examples are Electrical motors, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic pistons, relays, comb drive, piezoelectric actuators, thermal bimorphs, digital micromirror devices and electroactive polymers.
Motors are mostly used when circular motions are needed, but can also be used for linear applications by transforming circular to linear motion with a bolt and screw transducer. On the other hand, some actuators are intrinsically linear, such as piezoelectric actuators.
In virtual instrumentation, actuators and sensors are the hardware complements of virtual instruments. Computer programs of virtual instruments use actuators to act upon real world objects.

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 Examples include:
 *Mechanics - [[plasma actuator]]s, [[pneumatic actuator]]s, [[electric actuator]]s, [[motor]]s, [[hydraulic cylinder]]s, [[linear actuator]]s, etc.
-*[[Human]] - [[Muscles]]
+*[[Human]] - [[muscles]]
-*[[Biology]] - Actuator domains found in P, F and V type ATPases
+*[[Biology]] - actuator domains found in P, F and V type ATPases
 *In [[engineering]], actuators are frequently used as mechanisms to introduce motion, or to clamp an object so as to prevent motion. In electronic engineering, actuators ACTT, are a subdivision of [[transducer]]s. They are devices which transform an input signal (mainly an electrical signal) into [[motion (physics)|motion]]. Specific examples are [[Electric motor|Electrical motors]], [[Pneumatic actuator|pneumatic actuators]], [[Hydraulics|hydraulic]] [[piston]]s, [[relay]]s, [[comb drive]], [[Piezoelectricity|piezoelectric]] actuators, [[thermal]] bimorphs, [[digital micromirror device]]s and [[electroactive polymers]].
 *[[Motors]] are mostly used when circular motions are needed, but can also be used for linear applications by transforming circular to linear motion with a bolt and screw [[transducer]]. On the other hand, some actuators are intrinsically linear, such as piezoelectric actuators.