Simulation of a (very) simple robotic arm powered by syringe-controlled air pressure tubes.
To try this
simulation:
Click on one of the buttons to pull/push the appropriate syringe, and the robotic arm will react appropriately. Left-drag to rotate the image.
What's Going On?
The syringes activate the components of the arm. As you push on a syringe the air inside is compressed and forced out of the hole in the end. If a hose is connected to the end of the syringe, the compressed air is pushed to the other end. If a piston is connected there, pushing on the syringe will cause the air inside to push on the piston and force the piston rod out.
There's More!
This robot arm uses air to activate the various components. Air is fine for light duty, but if an appreciable force is needed, you will have to use a fluid that will not compress as air does. In commercial robots, there are two primary sources of power. One way to get the arm to move is by electric motors connected to the arm by gears. Electric motors are clean, simple to use, reliable and easy to make in many configurations.
Another source of power is hydraulic fluid activated by high-pressure pumps. With hydraulic fluids you can get a tremendous amount of activation force because the fluids do not compress.
