An effector is
any device that affects the environment. Robots control their effectors, which
are also known as end effectors. Effectors include legs, wheels, arms, fingers,
wings and fins. Controllers cause the effectors to produce desired effects on
the environment. An actuator is the actual
mechanism that enables the effector to execute an action. Actuators typically
include electric motors, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, etc. The terms
effector and actuator are often used interchangeably to mean "whatever
makes the robot take an action." This is not really proper use. Actuators
and effectos are not the same thing. And we'll try to be more precise in the
class. Most simple actuators control a single degree of freedom,
i.e., a single motion (e.g., up-down, left-right, in-out, etc.). A motor shaft
controls one rotational degree of freedom, for example. A sliding part on a
plotter controls one translational degree of freedom. How many degrees of
freedom (DOF) a robot has is going to be very important in determining how it
can affect its world, and therefore how well, if at all, it can accomplish its
task. Just as we said many times before that sensors must be matched to the
robot's task, similarly, effectors must be well matched to the robot's
task also.