Developing force by applying pressure to a closed container is a simple enough concept; controlling the pressure and flow so that the point of application of the force is constrained to move exactly as desired requires a comprehensive knowledge of fluid mechanics and automatic control theory. The study of fluid-power has become an essential part of the training of agricultural, aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineers. Fluid-power devices may be found in equipment ranging from a garden tractor to a flight simulator. A sequence of fluid-power experiments starting with basic fluid properties and culminating in the control of linear and rotary actuators is provided to the student. Some fluid-power controls are capable of very rapid response and instrumentation must tract this response. The new instrumentation will be capable of measuring flows, pressure, and displacements at intervals of 1/1000 or less. The fluid power industry routinely uses microcomputer based instrumentation and it is essential that an engineering student should appreciate the capability of such instrumentation.
