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Fluidics is the use of a fluid or compressible medium to perform analog or digital operations similar to those performed with electronics.
The physical basis of fluidics is pneumatics and hydraulics, based on the theoretical foundation of fluid dynamics. However, ordinary hydraulic components such as hydraulic cylinders and spool valves are not usually referred to as fluidic devices. The 1960s saw the application of fluidics to sophisticated control systems, with the introduction of the fluidic amplifier.
Nanotechnology considers fluidics as one of its instruments. In this domain, more delicate effects come into play, such as fluid-solid or fluid-fluid interface effects.
Fluidic amplifier
The basic concept of the fluidic amplifier is shown here. A fluid supply, which may be air, water, or hydraulic fluid, enters at the bottom. Pressure applied to the control ports C1 or C2 deflects the stream, so that it exits via either port O1 or O2. The stream entering the control ports may be much weaker than the stream being deflected, so the device has gain.
Given this basic device, flip flops and other fluidic logic elements can be constructed. Simple systems of digital logic can thus be built.
Fluidic amplifiers typically have bandwidths in the low kilohertz range, so systems built from them are quite slow compared to electronic devices.
Fluidic systems
Fluidic components appear in some hydraulic and pneumatic systems, including some automotive automatic transmissions. As digital logic has become more accepted in industrial control, the role of fluidics in industrial control has declined.
See also
"Fluidics"