Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a programmable metafluid with tunable springiness, optical properties, viscosity and even the ability to transition between a Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid.&nbsp;The first-of-its-kind metafluid uses a suspension of small, elastomer spheres — between 50 to 500 microns — that buckle under pressure, radically changing the characteristics of the fluid. The metafluid could be used in everything from hydraulic actuators to program robots, to intelligent shock absorbers that can dissipate energy depending on the intensity of the impact, to optical devices that can transition from clear to opaque.The research is published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07163-z" target="_blank">Nature</a>.&nbsp;“We are just scratching the surface of what is possible with this new class of fluid,” said Adel Djellouli, a Research Associate in Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering at SEAS and first author of the paper. “With this one platform, you could do so many different things in so many different fields.”<blockquote>"We are just scratching the surface of what is possible with this new class of fluid. With this one platform, you could do so many different things in so many different fields."ADEL DJELLOULI, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING</blockquote>Metamaterials — artificially engineered materials whose properties are determined by their structure rather than composition — have been widely used in a range of applications for years. But most of the materials — such as the metalenses pioneered in the lab of <a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/person/federico-capasso" target="_blank">Federico Capasso</a>, Robert L. Wallace Professor of Applied Physics and Vinton Hayes Senior Research Fellow in Electrical Engineering at SEAS — are solid.&nbsp;“Unlike solid metamaterials, metafluids have the unique ability to flow and adapt to the shape of their container,” said <a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/person/katia-bertoldi" target="_blank">Katia Bertoldi</a>, William and Ami Kuan Danoff Professor of Applied Mechanics at SEAS and senior author of the paper. “Our goal was to create a metafluid that not only possesses these remarkable attributes but also provides a platform for programmable viscosity, compressibility and optical properties.”Using a highly scalable fabrication technique developed in the lab of<a href="https://seas.harvard.edu/person/david-weitz" target="_blank">&nbsp;David A. Weitz</a>, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and of Applied Physics at SEAS, the research team produced hundreds of thousands of these highly-deformable spherical capsules filled with air and suspended them in silicon oil. When the pressure inside the liquid increases, the capsules collapse, forming a lens-like half sphere. When that pressure is removed, the capsules pop back into their spherical shape.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1712910643712-ezgif-6-525a83ddd2.gif" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">When pressure is removed from the fluid, the capsules pop back into their spherical shape. (Credit: Adel Djellouli/Harvard SEAS)That transition changes many of the liquid’s properties, including its viscosity and opacity. Those properties can be tuned by changing the number, thickness and size of the capsules in the liquid. &nbsp;The researchers demonstrated the programmability of the liquid by loading the metafluid into a hydraulic robotic gripper and having the gripper pick up a glass bottle, an egg and a blueberry. In a traditional hydraulic system powered by simple air or water, the robot would need some kind of sensing or external control to be able to adjust its grip and pick up all three objects without crushing them.&nbsp;But with the metafluid, no sensing is needed. The liquid itself responds to different pressures, changing its compliance to adjust the force of the gripper to be able to pick up a heavy bottle, a delicate egg and a small blueberry, with no additional programming.&nbsp;“We show that we can use this fluid to endow intelligence into a simple robot,” said Djellouli.The team also demonstrated a fluidic logic gate that can be reprogrammed by changing the metafluid.The metafluid also changes its optical properties when exposed to changing pressures.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1712910829305-ezgif-6-15470cf979.gif" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Metafluid over the Harvard logo. (Credit: Adel Djellouli/Harvard SEAS)When the capsules are round, they scatter light, making the liquid opaque, much like air bubbles make aerated water appear white. But when pressure is applied and the capsules collapse, they act like microlenses, focusing light and making the liquid transparent. &nbsp;These optical properties could be used for a range of applications, such as e-inks that change color based on pressure.&nbsp;The researchers also showed that when the capsules are spherical, the metafluid behaves like a Newtonian fluid, meaning its viscosity only changes in response to temperature. However, when the capsules are collapsed, the suspension transforms into a non-Newtonian fluid, meaning that its viscosity will change in response to shear &nbsp;force — the greater the shear force, the more fluid it becomes. This is the first metafluid that has been shown to transition between Newtonian and non-Newtonian states.Next, the researchers aim to explore the acoustic and thermodynamic properties of the metafluid.&nbsp;“The application space for these scalable, easy-to-produce metafluids is huge,” said Bertoldi.Harvard’s&nbsp;<a href="https://otd.harvard.edu/" target="_blank">Office of Technology Development</a> has protected the intellectual property associated with this research and is exploring commercialization opportunities.The research was supported in part by the NSF through the Harvard University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center grant number DMR-2011754.&nbsp;It was co-authored by Bert Van Raemdonck, Yang Wang, Yi Yang, Anthony Caillaud, David Weitz, Shmuel Rubinstein and Benjamin Gorissen.

Researchers develop metafluid with programmable response

Intelligent liquid

Soft robotics is a rapidly advancing field of robotics that involves the design and development of robots made from flexible and deformable materials. These robots, unlike their traditional rigid counterparts, have the ability to adapt to their environment, navigate complex and dynamic spaces, and interact safely with humans. Soft robots can be made from materials such as silicone, rubber, and other flexible polymers, and they can be made to resemble a wide range of shapes and structures.&nbsp;In this article, we list out and explain in detail the different types of actuators used in soft robotics, including pneumatic, hydraulic, shape memory alloys, electro-active polymers, and magnetic fields. We also explore some applications of soft robotics enabled by them.<h1 dir="ltr">Introduction</h1>Since the early days of robotics, the focus has been on rigid and inflexible machines capable of performing specific tasks with high speed, high accuracy, and high repeatability. However, the limitations of traditional robotics eventually became apparent in specific fields, such as medicine, manufacturing, and disaster response, where safety and flexibility were critical.Further research in the domain led to the creation of soft grippers and other soft components that could let the robots interact with their environment in a much better way.&nbsp;With the rise in popularity of biomimetics, the study of nature that inspires the design and development of new technologies, researchers have increasingly drawn inspiration from the behavior of biological entities to come up with creative ideas for the development of new and innovative robotic systems.Suggested reading: <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/biomimetics-the-science-of-robo-animals" target="_blank">Biomimetics: The Science of Robo-Animals</a>Advancements in material science and fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing, enabled the development of more complex soft robots that could be applied in various areas like biomedical devices, wearables, and disaster response.[1]In the early 2010s, Prof. George Whitesides from <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/harvard.university" target="_blank">Harvard University</a> coined the term &ldquo;soft robotics&rdquo;.[2] IEEE Robotics and Automation Society established a new technical committee for soft robotics to promote research in the domain, and since then, the field has continued to evolve.[3]<h1 dir="ltr">Types of Actuators Powering Soft Robots</h1>Soft robots need power sources to drive the actuation of their moving parts. Actuation is the process of generating movement in a robot, and it is necessary for soft robots to be able to move and interact with their environment. Here are the different types of actuators powering soft robotics:<h2 dir="ltr">Pneumatic and Hydraulic actuators</h2>Just as electric motors require a power source, such as a battery or an external power supply, to drive the robot&#39;s movement, hydraulic and pneumatic systems require a source of pressurized fluid, such as air or water.Pneumatic actuators use compressed air to generate force and motion. They are often made of flexible materials such as rubber or silicone and can be shaped to fit a variety of applications. Pneumatic artificial muscle made of a flexible tube can expand when pressurized and produce a contracting force when depressurized.Hydraulic actuators, on the other hand, use a liquid such as water or oil to generate force. They can produce higher forces than pneumatic actuators and are often used in industrial automation applications. In soft robotics, hydraulic actuators are made of flexible materials.While pneumatic actuators are lightweight and easy to control, they may not be as powerful as hydraulic actuators to drive a soft robot. Hydraulic actuators generate more force but require additional components, such as pumps and reservoirs, to function, which can add significant complexity to the design.&nbsp;<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_4BTGgJjHog?&ab_channel=NASALangleyResearchCenter&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> Pneumatic and Hydraulic actuators may also incorporate sensors and feedback mechanisms to enable precise control. Ultimately, the choice of the actuator depends on the specific requirements of the soft robot being developed.<h2 dir="ltr">Shape-memory alloys</h2>Shape-memory alloys (SMA) are unique actuators that change shape when exposed to heat. This method also requires a power source, such as a battery or an external power supply, to generate the electric current for heating up the alloy.SMAs can be bent or deformed into a particular shape, and when they are heated, they will return to their original shape, generating a mechanical force. This property makes them useful for soft robotic systems that require high force and precision, such as those used in biomedical devices and prosthetics.Some commonly used SMAs are Nitinol (Nickel-Titanium alloy), Copper-Aluminum-Nickel alloys, Iron-Manganese-Silicon alloys, Copper-zinc-aluminum alloys, etc. Overall, SMAs have a number of useful properties, including less weight, flexibility, and the ability to generate high forces, making them a promising power source for developing soft robotic devices.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lbJHa9QL0D8?&ab_channel=HarrisonYoung&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe><h2 dir="ltr">Electro-active polymer actuators</h2>Electro-active polymer (EAP) actuators use an applied electric field to generate mechanical deformation. EAPs are a promising technology for use in soft robotics, as they offer several advantages over other types of actuators.The key advantages of EAP actuators are their softness and flexibility. EAPs can be fabricated into a variety of shapes and sizes, making them well-suited for use in soft robots. Additionally, EAPs have the potential to be more lightweight and energy-efficient than traditional actuators, which can be crucial in applications where weight and power consumption are critical.There are several types of EAP actuators, including dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs), and conductive polymers. Each of these types of EAP actuators works by a different mechanism, but all of them involve the use of an applied electric field to generate mechanical deformation.DEAs, for example, are made of a thin layer of a soft, electrically insulating polymer sandwiched between two layers of compliant electrodes. When an electric field is applied to the electrodes, it causes the polymer to deform, generating a change in shape or volume. This deformation can be used to drive the movement of a soft robot.IPMCs are made of a thin layer of an ion-containing polymer sandwiched between two layers of metal electrodes. When an electric field is applied, the ions in the polymer move towards one of the electrodes, causing the polymer to bend. This bending can be used to generate movement in a soft robot.Conductive polymers are a third type of EAP actuator that use the conductivity of the polymer to generate mechanical deformation. When an electric field is applied to a conductive polymer, it causes the polymer to expand or contract, depending on the strength and the direction of the field. This deformation can be used to drive the movement of a soft robot.EAP actuators offer a promising avenue for actuation in soft robotics; however, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed to fully realize their potential in soft robotics, such as improving their durability and scalability.<h2 dir="ltr">Magnetic actuators</h2>Magnetic actuators, as the name suggests, are actuators that use magnetic fields to generate movement. They consist of a magnet embedded in a flexible, elastomeric material. When a magnetic field is applied to the magnet, it causes the elastomer to deform, which drives the movement of a soft robot.One of the advantages of magnetic actuators is that they are relatively simple and inexpensive to fabricate. They also offer a high degree of precision and control, which can be important in certain applications.In soft gripper applications, magnetic actuators are used to generate the force needed to grasp and manipulate objects. By adjusting the strength and direction of the magnetic field, the grip force of the gripper can be finely tuned to the requirements of the task. In soft manipulator applications, magnetic actuators are used to drive the movement of the manipulator, allowing it to perform tasks such as grasping and releasing objects. In sensor applications, magnetic actuators are used as the sensing element, allowing the robot to detect and respond to changes in its environment.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OXRmxuB60DQ?&ab_channel=naturevideo&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> One of the challenges of using magnetic actuators in soft robotics is the need for a strong and consistent magnetic field, which can be difficult to achieve. Additionally, the design of the magnetic actuator can affect its performance, and optimizing the design can require a significant amount of time and resources.<h1 dir="ltr">Applications of Soft Robots</h1>Soft robotics is an emerging field that has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries. Here are some of the applications of soft robotics:<ul><li dir="ltr">Healthcare: Soft robots can potentially transform healthcare by enabling new forms of minimally invasive surgeries. The technology can also be used to build exosuits that help people with disabilities regain mobility. When used for making prosthetics, soft components can provide a more natural and comfortable fit for amputees.</li><li dir="ltr">Manufacturing:&nbsp;Soft robots are well-suited for manufacturing applications that require delicate handling of objects. They can also be used in assembly line operations to handle fragile components or to package products more efficiently and gently.</li><li dir="ltr">Survey and exploration: Soft robots can make their way through challenging environments such as underground mines, deep-sea environments, and space. Their softness and flexibility enables them to adapt to different obstacles and <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/connectivity-and-sensing-technologies-proven-in-the-harshest-environments" target="_blank">harsh environments</a>.</li><li dir="ltr">Agriculture: Soft robots can be used in agriculture to perform tasks such as planting, harvesting, and weeding. They can navigate through the fields without damaging crops. When used in conjunction with sensors and machine learning algorithms, these robots can prove to be a great help.</li><li dir="ltr">Search and Rescue: Soft robots can be used in search and rescue operations to locate and extract people from collapsed buildings or search for survivors in areas inaccessible to traditional search and rescue equipment.</li><li dir="ltr">Entertainment:&nbsp;Soft robots can be used in theme parks, animatronics, and other interactive means of entertainment to provide a more lifelike and engaging experience for users. They can also be possibly used to create new forms of entertainment.</li><li dir="ltr">Education:&nbsp;Soft robots can also be used in educational settings to teach students about robotics and engineering. The teachers can demonstrate concepts such as motion, force, and control and inspire students to pursue careers in science and technology.</li></ul>These are just a few of the many applications of soft robotics. As research in this field continues to advance, we will likely see many new and exciting applications in the future.<h1 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h1>The development of advanced and sustainable power sources is key to unlocking the full potential of soft robotics and enabling these innovative machines to change the way robots interact with their environments.&nbsp;<h1 dir="ltr">About the sponsor: Mouser Electronics</h1>Mouser Electronics is a worldwide leading authorized distributor of semiconductors and electronic components for over 1,200 manufacturer brands. They specialize in the rapid introduction of new products and technologies for design engineers and buyers. Their extensive product offering includes semiconductors, interconnects, passives, and electromechanical components.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1678247690451-1678247690451.png" width="720" height="91" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><h1 dir="ltr">References</h1>[1] Wallin, T.J., Pikul, J. &amp; Shepherd, R.F. 3D printing of soft robotic systems. Nat Rev Mater 3, 84&ndash;100 (2018). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-018-0002-2" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-018-0002-2</a>[2] Carl Vause, &lsquo;This robot has soft hands. It could be the future of sustainable production&rsquo;, World Economic Forum, 21 June 2018, [Online], Available from: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/robot-soft-hands-sustainable-production-soft-robotics/" style="background-color: transparent;" target="_blank">https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/robot-soft-hands-sustainable-production-soft-robotics/</a>[3] IEEE Technical Committee for Soft Robotics, [Online], Available from <a href="https://www.ieee-ras.org/soft-robotics" target="_blank">https://www.ieee-ras.org/soft-robotics</a>

As the field of soft robotics continues to evolve, one of the most critical challenges researchers face is developing reliable and efficient power sources to drive these pliable machines.

Powering Soft Robotics: A Deeper Look at Soft Robotics Actuators

Robotic actuators are the muscle power of Industry 4.0

Robotic actuators stand at the forefront of technological innovation, transforming energy into motion to breathe life into robots, enhancing their capabilities in an ever-evolving landscape of industrial automation.

Robot Actuators: A Comprehensive Guide to Types, Design, and Emerging Trends

Actuators are an integral part of instrumentation systems that power the machines that exist today. These devices make it possible for the machines to interact with their surroundings the way they do. In this article, we take a closer look at the omnipresent technology.

What is an Actuator? Types, Principles, and Applications

While some actuators and lifting devices can be purely electrical, using a screw system, it's far more likely that you'll be using some form of fluid power. This means you have a choice between hydraulics and pneumatics.Pneumatics provides fluid power by means of pressurised air or gases. Hydraulics provides fluid power by means of pressurised liquids, such as oil or water. In choosing one of the two, cost-effectiveness, materials to be moved, availability of resources and space are all factors to be considered. Heavy lifting equipment, for example, takes up a lot of space and requires a great deal more power than the small-scale demands of robotic laboratory or food-processing equipment. Each type of power has its advantages and disadvantages, according to circumstances.<h2>1. Strength</h2>Hydraulics is the best option for strength, because the liquid medium used for its operation has a high mass density and is largely incompressible. This means that hydraulics can develop much higher levels of pressure, and can use that pressure to transmit the power that will drive your application. Industrial applications using hydraulic power may command anything from 1,000-5,000 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure, while some specialised applications such as mining equipment or heavy lifting cranes can develop 10,000 psi or more.The fluids used in pneumatics have low mass density and are easily compressible. In some circumstances, gas or air can be compressed up to several hundred psi, but most mechanical applications are based on an operational pressure of only 80-100 psi. This means that pneumatic systems are largely incapable of the much larger force offered by hydraulics, and are unsuited to the moving or lifting of heavy loads. Compressed air is also subject to unexpected pressure drops or fluctuations which can cause operations to become jerky or unstable.<h2>2. Hygiene</h2>Pneumatic systems win out over hydraulics in the field of hygiene, as the only thing that can leak out of your system is air. Within the system itself, the compressed air will be cleaned of oil, water or metal particles, and any other contaminants, by the filtration unit. Pneumatic systems are generally favoured by environmentally-conscious companies or those contemplating greener manufacturing practices.You'll also be likely to choose pneumatics if you're installing systems in a clean room, a pharmaceutical laboratory, or the food and beverage industry. In these environments there must be absolutely no risk of contamination, so hydraulic systems are generally off-limits as they may be susceptible to leakage.Whether you choose water or oil in a hydraulic system, either of these may potentially leak out via faulty seals, valves or worn hoses. This will contaminate your clean environment despite any safeguards you may put in place. The presence of liquids may also invite corrosion of the hardware, with a further risk of introducing contaminants. Storage tanks are also required for the fluids, and residues must be disposed of at the end of the operational process.<h2>3. Speed</h2>Speed is one of the pneumatic system's biggest advantages. Compressed air has a high flow rate, which enables the quick release of energy and high-speed motion of moving parts such as actuators. Pneumatic actuators can achieve high cycle speeds and increased duty cycling, which deliver greater productivity. The advantage of rapid cylinder movement is further enhanced by the availability of equipment in very small sizes, ideal for use in applications where miniaturisation is a priority.Air has a much lower mass density, and can flow much more quickly and easily through pipework. Another advantage of the pneumatic system is that valves and cylinders can quickly alter their state or change direction by dumping their compressed air. This can be voided straight to the atmosphere and requires no further disposal.Water and hydraulic oil have a much greater resistance than air, with the viscosity of oil making it much slower. Although it will ultimately develop a greater degree of force and maintain constant pressure, it does not have the same rapidity as air movement, and may take longer to get your system running. In the event of a leakage or emergency, hydraulic fluid may not be vented rapidly to the environment, but must be re-routed back to its tank or reservoir.<h2>4. Energy</h2>Comparing hydraulics to pneumatics with regard to energy consumption, there are several factors to consider. Both systems usually require an input of electrical power to drive them, and a pneumatic system needs the continuous running of a compressor to provide the compressed air. The air supply cannot be recycled and requires constant replenishment, so energy consumption in this respect may be high. Any&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/how-to-find-leaks-in-pneumatic-systems" target="_blank" title="How to Find Leaks In Pneumatic Systems">air leakage</a> will also waste energy in the system.You also have to take into account the fact that pneumatic systems lose energy through heat produced by the compression process – though there are several measures that can be taken to make your system more energy-efficient. Fortunately, air is still free of charge, so there is no need to expend energy in obtaining, replenishing or disposing of waste products.Hydraulic fluids can use the same oil or water over and over again after the initial start-up. Provided you have a good filtration system and keep it properly maintained, a hydraulic system can be very energy-efficient in the long run. However, electrical power is still generally required to drive the pump, and much of the energy consumed by the pump is wasted. This is because the fluid medium is in constant circulation to maintain system pressure, even though only short periods of actuation may be required to drive the application. The more viscous the fluid medium, the more energy will also be required to move it. However, significant improvements are being achieved, with technological advancements involving different types of pump and the potential of modulating drives.<h2>5. Safety</h2>Considering hydraulics and pneumatics in the industrial environment, pneumatics is undoubtedly the safer option. A leakage of compressed air is not going to cause contamination, since air is not poisonous or corrosive, although other gases used in stand-alone or portable equipment may be hazardous. Compressed air does not generally pose a risk of fire and it won't explode, but the forcible escape of air through mechanical failure may cause physical injury.Hydraulic fluids, on the other hand, are always at risk of potentially dangerous leaks. Even water can cause damage if it's hot enough to scald. Other fluid media such as oil, ethylene glycol, plasma and fluid synthetics may be corrosive and/or poisonous. The fluid media may be combustible and require extra safety precautions, and used oil or fluids must eventually be drained and safely disposed of. In general, hydraulic systems incorporate fewer mechanical parts, but these may be subject to corrosion and potential component failures.<h2>6. Complexity</h2>Hydraulic systems typically have fewer moving parts and may be easily controlled with push buttons and simple levers. On the other hand, hydraulics rely on complex engineering that requires a system of valves and hoses, as well as a pump powered by an external energy source and a tank for storage of the liquid medium. It is possible to install a centralised power unit in a manufacturing plant in order to control several different hydraulic applications. Newer technology is introducing much better systems of managing speed, pressure and power.Pneumatic system designs are also typically very simple, and operate at a much lower pressure, so their component parts may be made from cheaper and less complex materials. Since the fluid medium is not corrosive or combustible, precautions do not need to be built in against these safety hazards. Technological advances have increased the variety of uses for pneumatic systems, with miniaturisation and new materials helping to reduce weight as well as bulk.<h2>7. Maintenance</h2>Pneumatic systems are cleaner and easier to maintain than hydraulic ones, since the fluid medium is air. A regular schedule of inspection and preventive maintenance is usually all that's required to keep a pneumatic system running, e.g. checking the seals and making sure there is no leakage of air. The air does need to be cleaned of contaminants, and one of the most important maintenance procedures is the cleaning and regular replacement of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rowse.co.uk/blog/post/when-to-replace-pneumatic-filters" target="_blank" title="When To Replace Pneumatic Filters">filter-regulator-lubricator unit</a>.With hydraulic systems, the main issue is corrosion. Unless you’re able to install pipes made of non-corrosive material, such as galvanised steel, regular monitoring will be required to assess how the pipes are being affected by the fluid medium. Water may cause oxidation, and oils or other media may leave deposits that will cause corrosion. Regular checks and replacements will be required for critical components such as seals, hoses and valves.<h2>Context is Everything</h2>The flexibility of air flow, and its precision in use, make pneumatics an obvious choice for such applications as medical tools, dental drills and small-scale robotics. Pneumatics are best employed in specialised environments where hygiene or green practices are paramount, but they are generally impractical for large-scale or heavy lifting duties. Hydraulics are ideal for such high-force applications, and are often found in construction or mining environments. They provide constant torque and force, in spite of any variations in speed, and maintain positional rigidity. At the end of the day, while technological advances continue to improve energy efficiency and performance on both sides, the hydraulic vs. pneumatics question ultimately boils down to context.

Any type of modern construction or manufacturing application is probably going to incorporate one or all of three different kinds of power: electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic.