{"id":543,"date":"2022-01-24T06:45:55","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T06:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/?page_id=543"},"modified":"2022-01-27T00:17:06","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T00:17:06","slug":"actuators","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/actuators\/","title":{"rendered":"Actuators"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"responsive-tabs\">\n<h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Introduction<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<h3>What are actuators?<\/h3>\n<p>Actuators are a component of a <a href=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/monitoring-control-systems\/\">control system<\/a> that converts a control signal (usually electrical)\u00a0 into some kind of mechanic motion. In a control system they produce the controlling output of the system, whereas sensors provide in to the system.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/alevelcs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/02\/Open-Loop-System.png\" \/><\/p>\n<p>They can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">operate values<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orientalmotor.com\/applications\/index.html\">drive motors \/ conveyor belts<\/a><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Switch switches<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Rotate objects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Common Uses<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<h3>Common uses<\/h3>\n<p>Actuators are a required component of any control system<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Production lines, controlling the movement of goods and the machines that make them<\/li>\n<li>In fly-by-wire systems on airplanes.<\/li>\n<li>In air-conditioning systems to turn on the fan\/cooler.<\/li>\n<li>In cars for example in electronic windows and doors<\/li>\n<li>In life support systems to administer drugs to patients automatically.<\/li>\n<li>In agriculture systems for automatic watering and temperature control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_874\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Production_line#\/media\/File:Krispy_Kreme_Doughnuts.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-874\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-874\" src=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/01\/donut-production-line-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/01\/donut-production-line-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/01\/donut-production-line-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/01\/donut-production-line-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/01\/donut-production-line.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-874\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Production lines rely on hundreds of actuators to control the flow of goods being produced. Source: Wikipedia<\/p><\/div>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Linear<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<h3>Linear Actuators<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_869\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-869\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-869 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/01\/linear-actuator-igcse-computer-science.gif?_t=1643241821\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"500\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-869\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A linear actuator, useful for pressing buttons, moving objects<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Linear actuators produce a backwards and forwards motion. They are often used for turning devices on and off without user intervention and for positioning objects.<\/p>\n<p>For example they are useful on assembly lines for moving objects in a fixed direction.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Rotary<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<h3>Rotary Actuators<\/h3>\n<p>Rotary actuators output a turning force. In the example below this turning force is used to open\/close a value on a water pipe automatically.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 542px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Actuator#\/media\/File:Compact_and_electric_valve_actuator.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/alevelcs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/actuator.jpg?_t=1643080505\" alt=\"\" width=\"532\" height=\"399\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: WIkipedia<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Common uses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Controlling values<\/li>\n<li>Distributing drinks in vending machines<\/li>\n<li>Opening\/closing electric locks<\/li>\n<li>Controlling\u00a0 car windows<\/li>\n<li>Controlling window wipers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Servos<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<h3>Servos<\/h3>\n<p>Servos are a type of actuator that is incredibly common in smaller systems.<\/p>\n<p>When fed a digital electrical control signal these servos motors move to precise angles, making them incredibly useful for a wide variety of applications. They are particularly popular when prototyping automated systems.<\/p>\n<h3>\u00a0<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-872 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/01\/servo.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"177\" \/><\/h3>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Crossword<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<h3>Crossword<\/h3>\n<div class=\"crossword_wrapper\"><div class=\"wha-row wha-crossword-row\"><div class=\"wha-crossword-container\"><div class=\"wha-center wha-crossword\" id=\"wha-crossword\"><\/div><br\/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wha-center wha-crossword-questions\"><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"1\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"servo\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"1\">1. Commonly used when prototyping<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"2\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"actuator\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"2\">2. The device that produces the output in a control system<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"3\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"sensor\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"3\">3. A device that provides an input signal<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"4\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"controller\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"4\">4. A microcontroller often acts as the ...<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"5\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"linear\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"5\">5. Type of actuator that moves forwards and backwards<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"6\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"rotary\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"6\">6. A type of actuator that produces a turning force<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"7\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"production line\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"7\">7. Usually contain many actuators<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><div class=\"wha-line\">\r\n                      <input class=\"wha-word\" data-counter=\"8\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"mechanical\"\/>\r\n                      <div class=\"wha-clue\" data-counter=\"8\">8. All actuators convert an control signal into  motion<\/div>\r\n                      <\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div><style><\/style><script><\/script><script>\r\n        \/* <![CDATA[ *\/\r\n        var optional_crossword_vars = {\r\n            'whacw_optional_bg_color':'FFFFFF',\r\n            'whacw_optional_border_color':'000000',\r\n            'whacw_optional_text_color':'000000',\r\n            'whacw_optional_question_color':'000000',\r\n            'whacw_optional_counter_color':'000000',\r\n            'whacw_use_global_options':'no',\r\n            'whacw_correct_ansver':'yes',\r\n            'whacw_incorrect_ansver':'yes',\r\n            'whacw_align_question':'right',            \r\n            'whacw_question_width':'300'            \r\n        };\r\n        \/* ]]> *\/\r\n        <\/script><div id=\"modal_form_crossword\">\r\n                    <span id=\"modal_close\">X<\/span>\r\n                    <div class=\"content\">Excellent work, you can go back to plotting world domination again.<\/div>\r\n                  <\/div>\r\n                  <div id=\"overlay\"><\/div>\n\n<\/div><h2 class=\"tabtitle\">Resources<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tabcontent\">\n\n<h3>Resources<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pastpapers.papacambridge.com\/viewer\/caie\/cambridge-upper-secondary-igcse-computer-science-0478-2018-oct-nov-0478-w18-qp-12-pdf\">0478\/12 &#8211; Paper 1 Theory October\/November 2018 qn 5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are actuators? Actuators are a component of a control system that converts a control signal (usually electrical)\u00a0 into some kind of mechanic motion. In a control system they produce the controlling output of the system, whereas sensors provide in to the system. They can: operate values drive motors \/ conveyor belts Switch switches Rotate&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/actuators\/\" class=\"\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Actuators<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"on","neve_meta_content_width":84,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Actuators | IGCSE Computer Science | Learnlearn.uk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/actuators\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Actuators | IGCSE Computer Science | Learnlearn.uk\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What are actuators? 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Actuators are a component of a control system that converts a control signal (usually electrical)\u00a0 into some kind of mechanic motion. In a control system they produce the controlling output of the system, whereas sensors provide in to the system. They can: operate values drive motors \/ conveyor belts Switch switches Rotate&hellip;&nbsp;Read&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/543"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=543"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":881,"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/543\/revisions\/881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/learnlearn.uk\/igcsecs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}