Summary
You have successfully completed this chapter of the book. Well done! With having reached the end of this chapter, you should now be able to explain actuators and the basic types available (electric actuators, pneumatic actuators, and hydraulic actuators).
Electric actuators use electricity, pneumatic actuators use compressed air, while hydraulic actuators use pressurized fluid (oil). They all perform actions through motion, which can either be linear or rotational. Some actuators are better suited for a particular application than others. For instance, a hydraulic actuator is useful for tasks requiring high force. It is good to have knowledge of all three types mentioned in this book. You might find any of the types in the industry you happen to find yourself working in as an automation engineer.
The topics touched on in this chapter are relevant for automation engineers and will help you to better understand the next chapter in this book, AC and DC Motors.