Linear actuators are very useful components of modern machinery.
They provide controllable linear motion for horizontal or vertical displacement. Some of them can be used in very harsh environments and are therefore referred to as heavy-duty actuators.
The actuator idea has existed for several centuries. The aelopile, invented by Hero of Alexandria, is an example of an early actuator of this type. It moved through the use of steam. But it was in the 1670s when a more refined actuator idea was born. It was a steam-powered piston. Dennis Papin is credited with the invention. This device was used in early steam machines, including locomotives.