A linear actuator is a machine that moves objects in a linear direction. The force is the amount of weight an actuator can withstand (i.e. the load that will be moved).
Stroke is the distance travelled by an actuator in motion.
An actuator's speed is the time required to complete its linear travel, such as inches per second.
Traditional hydraulic and pneumatic actuators consist of a piston inside a hollow cylinder filled with liquid (hydraulics) or air (pneumatic). Pressure moves the piston inside the cylinder, creating a linear force. While these actuators are able to deliver significant force, they lack precision and speed.
In traditional screw-driven actuators, a motor rotates a screw-drive and the drive nut is pushed by the turning of the screw. This, in turn, pushes the rod back and forth. Common applications for screw-driven actuators include automatic gate openers. Screw-driven actuators are typically relatively slow and provide only imprecise response.
A voice coil is a type of linear-force actuator that provides extremely precise positioning but with a relatively small stroke (a typical maximum strokes is only 5 to 6 inches). Its name is derived from one of its most common applications: vibrating the paper cone of a loudspeaker. Today, voice coils are also used to move the heads inside computer disk drives and are widely found in medical devices.
Aura’s linear-force actuators are entirely unmatched in today's marketplace. With the robust power and stroke of a hydraulic-based system, Aura's actuators also have the rapid response and precision of a voice coil –– making Aura's actuator technology the ideal solution for a wide range of military, industrial and governmental applications. Aura's actuators can be found today in space, in the air, on land and even at sea.
Aura’s actuator stabilization technology played a key role in the Hubble space telescope’s mirror-array repair and in the telescope's continued successful operation.
In the air, Aura's actuator technology provides vibration stabilization on the United States Air Force’s fleet of RF-16 aircraft.
On land, Aura's actuator technology is a vibration isolation solution that can drastically extend the lifespan of bridges and other ciritical infrastructure.
Beneath the waves, Aura’s actuator technology is integrated into every Los Angeles-Class Nuclear Fast Attack Submarine.