actuator

noun ac·tu·a·tor \ ˈak-chə-ˌwā-tər , -shə- \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Definition of actuator

: one that actuates; specifically : a mechanical device for moving or controlling something

Recent Examples of actuator from the Web

The devices contain numerous actuators beneath a flexible rubber cover, and they can be individually controlled and varied in pressure to simulate light touches up through more pronounced contact.

— eric adams, WIRED, "VR Pilot Training Now Comes With a Sense of Touch," 26 June 2018
Creator’s burger-making robot is a long stretch of sleek machinery, with 350 sensors, 50 actuators, and 20 computers to ensure every sauce is dispensed down to the milliliter and every spice down to the gram.

— renae reints, Fortune, "The World’s First Entirely Robot-Crafted Burger Is Here. This Is Exactly How It’s Made," 22 June 2018
The 14-foot machine contains 350 sensors, 20 computers and 50 actuator mechanisms to accomplish the burger making process.

— justin phillips, SFChronicle.com, "Six things to know about Creator, San Francisco’s new burger robot restaurant," 27 June 2018
By applying pressure to your fingertips, the actuators can replicate object stiffness, coarse textures, and the sensation of holding physical objects in your hands.

— eric adams, WIRED, "VR Pilot Training Now Comes With a Sense of Touch," 26 June 2018
Using independent actuators, motors and lightweight conformal structures, lithium ion battery powered FORTIS allows soldiers to carry 180 pounds up five flights of stairs while expending less energy.

— kris osborn, Fox News, "Army prototypes new self-powering 'Iron Man' soldier suits," 6 June 2018
Well, Atlas doesn’t come without its downsides: Its hydraulic actuators are strong, yet necessarily bulky.

— matt simon, WIRED, "The Lab Making Robots Walk Through Fire and Ride Segways," 25 Apr. 2018
The team's innovation is a dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator adhesive strip that can stick to the surface of wind turbine blades, plane wings and truck trailers.

— justin madden, cleveland.com, "300-gallon spill closes portion of I-480, police say," 19 Apr. 2018
To ensure the roof’s 500 parts, including a six-cylinder hydraulic actuator, can survive a lifetime on the road, engineers open and close it endlessly, aiming to cycle it up and down 6,000 times without a hiccup.

— alex davies, WIRED, "Unfold the Complex Engineering of Aston Martin's Super Swanky Convertible," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'actuator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.