Design methodology and case studies in actuator selection

Actuators are important work performing devices, incorporated within many engineering systems. There is a small core of actuator technologies that are frequently used by designers when in fact a wide range of possible solutions exist. Attempts have been made to categorise and compare actuators based on material performance, when in fact stimulus generation and actuator configuration are much more effective and practical criteria. Performance based figures of merit and user requirements analysis are further augmentations of the actuator selection methodology presented, useful to designers when choosing actuation solutions from existing as well as emerging technologies early in the design process. Three case studies in actuator selection are presented to demonstrate the approach.