PNEUMATIC DRIVE – 21105
A pneumatic drive is a method of providing movement to a robot manipulator.It uses compressed gas, such as air, to transfer forces to various joints, telescoping sections, and end effectors.
The pneumatic drive consists of a power supply, one or more motors, a set of pistons and valves, and a feedback loop. The valves and pistons control the movement of the gas. Because the gas is compressible, the drive cannot impart large forces without significant positioning errors.A feedback loop consists of one or more force sensors that can provide error correction and help the manipulator follow its intended path.
Pneumatically driven manipulators are used when precision and speed are not critical.