A Linear Actuator  is the device that is used to get linear motion after driving the actuator by anon linear motion. Mechanical and hydraulic actuators are most common actuators use to get linear motion in various devices. Electric motor is an example of linear motion. It is much similar to solar trackers but has different technology as it used rotary motion to get linear motion.

Linear Actuators are various kinds of actuators. Some are as follows:

*      Mechanical actuators
*      Hydraulic actuators
*      Pneumatic actuators
*      Piezoelectric actuators
*      Electro-mechanical actuators
*      Simplified design
*      Principles
*      Variations
*      Linear motors
*      Wax motors
*      Telescoping Linear Actuator

Mechanical actuators drive by converting rotary motion into linear motion and this conversion has simple types of machinery such as screws, wheel & axle, wedge and cam. Screw is the most simple machines use to tight the nuts by rotating it, the screw moves in one line for this purpose. Similarly, when wheel will move it will enable cable, rack, chain or belt to work.  Wedge and cam both work with similar principle. Cam provides limited travel than wedge. When cam rotates, it thrust at the base of a duct to complete the job. Some mechanical actuators use to only pulling purposes like hoist, chain drive and belt drive etc.

Hydraulic Linear Actuators contain hollow cylinder with a piston. The two sides of the piston used to assert pressure on one side and get the required disposition from other one. Car jack is the good example of hydraulic actuator. Hydraulic actuators are the devices controlled by hydraulic pumps. Pneumatic actuators use compressed gas to create pressure.

Piezoelectric actuators use voltage to get expansion in result. Very high voltage is used to get tiny expansions to get extremely fine positioning resolution but with a short range of motion. This exercise cannot be repeated in piezoelectric actuators. Electro mechanical actuators use electric motors instead of knobs and handles to control the function.

There are also many other Linear Actuators used in linear motion systems such as brush, dc brushless, stepper and induction motors. There are variations in designs and one can be confused to get the correct one. Inclined plane is the principle of operation followed by different actuators. It has a continuous ramp used to carry out movement of a huge load over a short distance.

Linear motors are the rotary devices use to convert rotary motion to linear. These kinds of motors have less load capacity as compared with others which are being especially designed to handle heavy loads. Wax motors are used to expand the wax using heat. Nozzles and plungers are used in wax motors. Telescoping Linear Actuators are used in space restrictions.