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Robotics/Components/Actuation Devices
Reference material by Wikibooks contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
Actuation devices are the components of the robot that make it move (excluding your feet). Best known actuators are electric motors, servos and stepper motors and also pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. Today there are new alternatives, some which wouldn't be out of place in a good SF-movie. One of the new types of actuators are Shape Memory Alloys (SMA). These are metal alloys that shrink or enlarge depending on how warm they are. Another new technique is the use of air-muscles.
/Motors/
/Shape Memory Alloys/
/Air muscle/
/Linear Electromagnetic/
/Piezoelectric Actuators/
Pneumatics/Hydraulics
/Miniature internal combustion engines/