Hardware

Pneumatic Actuator

A pneumatic actuator converts compressed air into mechanical motion, most commonly as linear cylinders, rotary vanes, or contracting McKibben artificial muscles. Pneumatics offer high force-to-weight ratio, intrinsic compliance, and low cost, but air compressibility makes precise position and force control difficult, so they traditionally serve binary open-close roles such as gripper jaws and part clamps, and they remain popular in soft robotics.

Why it matters for physical AI

Intrinsic compliance makes pneumatics attractive for safe contact and soft grippers, but their control difficulty and tethered air supply explain why electric actuation dominates learned dexterous manipulation platforms.