Actuator
by the_admin
In electrical engineering, the term actuator refers to a mechanism that causes a device to be turned on or off, adjusted, or moved, usually in response to an electrical signal. In some literature, the terms actor or effector are also used. The term “effector” is preferred by programmers, whereas engineers tend to favor “actuator.” An example of an actuator is a motor that closes blinds in response to a signal from a sunlight detector. Actuators enable computers to control complex manufacturing processes without human intervention or supervision.