Actuators are devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical work, traditionally used in electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems. As the demand for actuator technologies grows in biomedical, prosthetic and orthotic applications, there is an increasing need for complex and sophisticated products that perform efficiently also when scaled to micro and nano domains. Providing a comprehensive overview of actuators for novel applications, this excellent book: * Presents a mechatronic approach to the design, control and integration of a range of technologies covering piezoelectric actuators, shape memory actuators, electro-active polymers, magnetostrictive actuators and electro- and magnetorheological actuators. * Examines the characteristics and performance of emerging actuators upon scaling to micro and nano domains. * Assesses the relative merits of each actuator technology and outlines prospective application fields. Offering a detailed analysis on current advances in the field, this publication will appeal to practising electrical and electronics engineers developing novel actuator systems. Mechanical and automation engineers, computer scientists and researchers will also find this a useful resource.