Talk:Actuator

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This article is obviously written from a non-mechanical point of view. "Actuator" means many more detailed things in mechanical engineering that should be prominently discussed in this article. See this link and this link.

[edit] Bolt and Screw Clarification

With regard to the phrase "bolt and screw transducer", I wondered whether this should read "nut and bolt transducer", since in order to obtain linear motion there needs to be something moving along the bolt (or screw), and usually that's a nut (attached to an object). As the bolt or screw turns, so the nut moves along the thread (backwards or forwards, depending on the direction in which the bolt or screw is turning, and the "handedness" of the thread). AncientBrit 23:40, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

Are you kidding me! Who cares about this stuff seriously.

[edit] Diagram

How does the diagram in the article complement the article at all? The article defines an actuator as something an agent can use to act on the environment, such as arms, robotic pincers, etc. The diagram just shows a spring curling and uncurling. There is no explanation of how it is moving, what the agent is that is doing the moving, why it's labeled an actuator, or anything at all to show how it's relevant to the article.

I think either an attempt needs to be made to tie the diagram in with the article, or the diagram should be removed as unhelpful. 199 (talk) 19:17, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Intelligent Agents

Embodied intelligent agents (i.e. physical robots being driven by an "intelligent" program) *have* actuators but *are not* actuators. A robot may have a motor (an actuator) for lifting something or moving around. However, the robot itself is not an actuator. -- cmhTC 15:31, 25 October 2007 (UTC)