This book covers the whole range of today’s technology for pneumatic drives. It details drives for factory automation and automotive applications as well as describes the technology for the process industry like positioners or spring-and-diaphragm. In addition, the book examines several control strategies like binary mode cylinder drives or position controlled drives and computer aided analysis of complex systems.

This book reports on cutting-edge research and technical achievements in the field of hydraulic drives. The chapters, selected from contributions presented at the International Scientific-Technical Conference on Hydraulic and Pneumatic Drives and Controls, NSHP 2023, held on October 11-13, 2023, in Piechowice, Poland, cover a wide range of topics such as theoretical advances in fluid technology, work machines in mining, construction, marine and manufacturing industry, and practical issues relating to the application and operation of hydraulic drives. Further topics include: safety and environmental issues associated with the use of machines with hydraulic drive, designing test stands with hydraulic and pneumatic components, advancing control of hydraulic systems, analyzing vibration issues, application of renewable energy sources, and new materials in the design of hydraulic components. Special emphasis is given to new solutions for hydraulic components and systems as well as to the identification of phenomena and processes occurring during the operation of hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

This book reports on cutting-edge research and technical achievements in the field of hydraulic drives. The chapters, selected from contributions presented at the International Scientific-Technical Conference on Hydraulic and Pneumatic Drives and Controls, NSHP 2020, held on October 21-23, 2020, in Trzebieszowice, Poland, cover a wide range of topics such as theoretical advances in fluid technology, work machines in mining, construction, marine and manufacturing industry, and practical issues relating to the application and operation of hydraulic drives. Further topics include: safety and environmental issues associated with the use of machines with hydraulic drive, and new materials in design of hydraulic components. A special emphasis is given to new solutions for hydraulic components and systems as well as to the identification of phenomena and processes occurring during the operation of hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

Highly automated production and logistics facilities require mechatronic drive solutions. This book describes in which way the industrial production and logistics work and shows the structure of the drive solutions required for this purpose. The functionality of the mechanical and electronic elements of a drive system is described, and their basic dimensioning principles are explained. The authors also outline the engineering, reliability, and important aspects of the life cycle.

Drives and Control for Industrial Automation presents the material necessary for an understanding of servo control in automation. Beginning with a macroscopic view of its subject, treating drives and control as parts of a single system, the book then pursues a detailed discussion of the major components of servo control: sensors, controllers and actuators. Throughout, the mechatronic approach – a synergistic integration of the components – is maintained, in keeping with current practice. The authors’ holistic approach does not preclude the reader from learning in a step-by-step fashion – each chapter contains material that can be studied separately without compromising understanding. Drives are described in several chapters according to the way they are usually classified in industry, each comprised of its actuators and sensors. The controller is discussed alongside. Topics of recent and current interest – piezoelectricity, digital communications and future trends – are detailed in their own chapters.

Addresses challenging aspects of robotics research, including the dynamics of robots with elastic parts and optimal control of manipulators. Basics in kinematics, dynamics, drives, and control and sensor systems are discussed. To more efficiently evaluate the elastic compliance of robots and their dynamic accuracy, the authors propose new computer techniques and provide much experimental data. Optimal control methods presented in the book allow robotics engineers to increase the speed and productivity of robotic operations and reduce energy consumption. New developments in robotics covered include pneumatic sensors, adaptive grippers, special robotic systems for measurement and inspection, and wall-climbing robots with technological manipulators. The book will be an important reference for mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, robotics engineers, and researchers in automatic control.

Authored by a team of acknowledged experts, this book presents a multidisciplinary view of the state of the art in the field of actuators. The goal of the book is to provide a comprehensive overview of the properties, applications, and potential applications of traditional and unconventional actuators, together with their corresponding power electronics. Special attention is paid to the objective assessment of competing actuator principles. The book is written primarily for designers and engineers in research and development, but will also be valuable as a textbook for students of automation engineering, mechatronics and adaptronics.