actuator

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

a mechanical device that converts an input energy signal — electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or thermal — into physical motion or force, serving as the muscle of a robotic or automated system; actuators are the components that move joints, extend links, grip objects, and perform the physical work of robotic manipulation; electric actuators — brushed and brushless DC motors, stepper motors, and linear motors — are the most common in modern robotics for their precision, controllability, and ease of integration with electronic control systems; hydraulic actuators provide very high force-to-weight ratios suitable for heavy-duty applications including construction equipment and large industrial robots; pneumatic actuators use compressed air and are fast and lightweight but difficult to control precisely; soft actuators made from flexible materials including pneumatically inflatable elastomers are used in soft robotics for safe human interaction

Examples

• The exoskeleton's actuators must generate sufficient torque to support the weight of a human limb while remaining light enough for wearability.
• Hydraulic actuators in heavy industrial robots can exert forces of thousands of newtons with millimetre positional accuracy.