Actuators are devices that convert various types of energy into mechanical movements such as rotational movement and linear movement.
Typical actuators include motors and sliders.Devices that include a mechanism for rotating or linearly moving using a motor or slider as a power source are called actuators, too. Actuator power sources include hydraulic / pneumatic technology that uses the pressure energy of oil and air, and motors that use electrical energy.
A rotating motor uses an encoder to control the rotation speed and rotation angle, and is used to move machines with high accuracy and speed. With hydraulic pressure, accurate position and speed can be controlled, but it takes time to start moving, so control using an encoder is not used.
Pneumatic pressure does not accurately control position and speed, but is used for automation and labor-saving technologies in factories, etc., by combining simple movements such as forward and backward.