Actuators in Robotic Control—3rd Edition
A special issue of Actuators (ISSN 2076-0825). This special issue belongs to the section "Actuators for Robotics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 2580
Special Issue Editor
Interests: mechatronics; precision motion control; system identification; sliding-mode control, robotics, and evolutionary algorithms
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Robotic actuators are the components which convert the stored energy into the movement.
Robotic actuations, such as electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic, are integrated with sensors and control systems. The type of actuator affects the performance and efficiency of the robot greatly and enhances its ability to operate in dynamic environments autonomously. The actuator is like the "muscles" of a robot, which convert the stored energy into movement and contribute the precision and ability to interact with the environment. In the realm of robotic researches, the actuators are the components that drive force to execute the corresponding movement according to receive signals from the control system. They are the components that enable robots to interact with their environment by converting energy into motion. In the robotic applications, there are several types of actuators and the choice of actuator can influence its performance, efficiency, and suitability significantly. Electric actuators are the most commonly used among robotic actuators, due to their high speed, precision, and ease of control. Pneumatic actuators have fewer moving parts than other types of actuators, such as electric or hydraulic actuators. Pneumatic actuators, which are easier to maintain and less prone to mechanical failure, are the popular choice for applications that require reliability and low maintenance. However, pneumatic actuators have some limitations; they are less precise than the electric actuators, because they require a source of compressed air. Hydraulic actuators, that use pressurized fluid to create motion, are known for their high force and power, making them suitable for heavy-duty tasks. In a hydraulic actuator, a pump pressurizes a fluid to move a piston, which can be used to create linear or rotary motion.
When selecting an actuator for a robotic application, these metrics are used to determine the suitability of an actuator for a specific task as follows: (1) Force and Torque, (2) Speed and Response, (3) Accuracy and Precision, (4) Efficiency, (5) Durability and Reliability, and (6) Size and Weight. To ensure that all of the components of a robot are soft and flexible, actuators should provide their movements in limited spaces and change gaits easily. These actuators have advancements in fields such as materials science, electronics, and control systems to make it possible in robotic motion, such as Smart Materials Actuators, Soft Actuators, Energy-Efficient Actuators and Multi-Functional Actuators. New actuator designs, control techniques, and integration techniques for robots have been developed to satisfy sophisticated demands. Innovation in actuators is one of the most important subjects for next-generation robotics.
This Special Issue will focus on progress in actuators in robotic control in different applications. Original papers and survey papers are welcome.
Prof. Dr. Chih Jer Lin
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- variable impedance actuators
- soft actuators
- elastic actuators
- electric actuators
- pneumatic artificial muscles
- force/torque control
- soft robotics
- mobile robots
- humanoid robotics
- wearable robotic system
- assistant robotics
- upper limb exoskeletons
- lower limb exoskeletons
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