Page 164 - Mechatronic Components Roadmap to Design

Chapter 11

Actuators

ABSTRACT
Actuators are the muscle of the mechatronic systems. Mostly electrical motors are used
for ease of control. DC motors are preferred in the mobile systems since the current battery
technology can only store DC energy. AC motors are preferred in building since it is very
easy and cheap to use electrical energy from the electrical grid. Pneumatic systems use air
as an energy source while hydraulic systems use fluids, in general, oil.
Pneumatic systems are faster to respond but cannot carry high force. In contrast, the
hydraulic systems can lift more forces but provide a rather slower system compared to the
pneumatic systems. Since both systems are using fluids and the flow of the fluid in the
piping system is nonlinear, these systems are very hard to position and speed control.
Stepper motors are good for position control while brushless DC motors are good for
high-revolution needs, such as running a propeller. Regular DC motors are mostly used
with gearboxes to reduce the rotation speed and to increase the torque.

Mechatronic Components. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814126-7.00011-6
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