An actuator is a mechanism for activating process control equipment by the use of pneumatic, hydraulic, or electronic signals. Used in the robots for providing the power to the robot joints. It can be powered by anyone of the following sources: 1 Hydraulic – pressurized fluid. 2 Pneumatic – compressed air.3 Electric – electricity.
Robot Actuators-Different Types. An actuator is a mechanism for activating process control equipment by the use of pneumatic, hydraulic, or electronic signals. There are several types of actuators in robotic arms. Synchronous Actuator-The motor contains a rotor that rotates in synchrony with the oscillating field or current. 1  Brushless DC Servo-This synchronous electric motor features permanent magnet poles on the rotor, which are attracted to the rotating poles of the opposite magnetic polarity in the stator creating torque. 3) Scotch Yokes. Many robots use motors or servos as actuators, both of which provide rotational motion. You can turn that rotation into a linear motion with a mechanism called a Scotch Yoke. The Scotch Yoke has a rod with a rectangular slot cut in a “yoke” in the middle of it. Image by Dbarak [CC BY 3.0]. Watch for our robot themed posts during May in honor of Make: Vol. 45: Robots, and don’t forget to subscribe to Make: magazine. There are lots of types of actuators on robots. You know, the things that make the robot move and allow it to interact physically with the world … grippers, arms, legs, wheels, etc. Unlike wheels or servo-driven arms, linear actuators operate by pushing or pulling along a straight line The actuators are used in the robots for providing the power to the robot joints. It can be powered by anyone of the following sources: 1  Hydraulic – pressurized fluid. 2  Pneumatic – compressed air. 3  Electric – electricity.  An actuator is a type of motor that is responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. It is operated by a source of energy, typically electric current, hydraulic fluid pressure, or pneumatic pressure, and converts that energy into motion. An actuator is the mechanism by which a control system acts upon an environment. The control system can be simple (a fixed mechanical or electronic system), software-based (e.g. a printer driver, robot control system), a human, or any other input. It was first created by Xhiter Anckeleman (pronounced 'Ziter') who used his knowledge of engines and brake systems to come up with a new solution to ensure that the brakes on a car exert the maximum force, with the least possible wear and tear. Robotics Planning. Robotics Technology-Actuators. Actuators, also known as drives, are mechanisms for getting robots to move. Most actuators are powered by pneumatics (a ir pressure), hydraulics (fluid pressure), or motors (electric current). Most actuation uses electromagnetic motors and gears but there have been frequent uses of other forms of actuation including NiTinOLmuscle-wires and inexpensive Radio Control servos. These technologies deal with automated machines that can take the place of humans in dangerous environments or manufacturing processes, or resemble humans in appearance, behavior, and/or cognition. Many of today's robots are inspired by nature contributing to the field of bio-inspired robotics. The concept of creating machines that can operate autonomously dates back to classical times, but research into the functionality and potential uses of robots did not grow substantially until the 20th century. Limited sensing and actuation in space present additional challenges. The approach discussed here is to transform the system dynamics into a set of linear time-varying ordinary differential equations. The control of the high-frequency robots is decoupled from the control of the low-frequency structures. Practical considerations such as the robots’ high joint friction and nonlinear thruster actuation also make the construction and assembly of large flexible space structures using space robots challenging. Today, robotics is a rapidly growing field, as technological advances continue; researching, designing, and building new robots serve various practical purposes, whether domestically, commercially, or militarily. Many robots do jobs that are hazardous to people such as defusing bombs, mines and exploring shipwrecks. Many of today's robots are inspired by nature contributing to the field of bio-inspired robotics. The concept of creating machines that can operate autonomously dates back to classical times, but research into the functionality and potential uses of robots did not grow substantially until the 20th century. This work focuses on the control of teams of robots performing construction tasks such as manipulation and assembly of large space structures. The control of the robot structure system is difficult. The space structures are flexible and there are significant dynamic interactions between the robots and the structures. Practical considerations such as the robots’ high joint friction and nonlinear thruster actuation also make the construction and assembly of large flexible space structures using space robots challenging.
https://www.robots.com/education/actuators http://makezine.com/2015/05/11/5-linear-actuators-get-robot-moving/ http://www.roboticsbible.com/actuators-used-in-robots.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actuator http://www.electronicsteacher.com/robotics/robotics-technology/actuators.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotics http://robots.mit.edu/publications/papers/2007_04_Dub_Bon.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotics http://robots.mit.edu/publications/papers/2007_04_Dub_Bon.pdf
what is robot actuation