Fluid power systems design - Bramah's legacy

This paper gives a brief historical survey of fluid power systems. It shows that many current applications can be traced to ideas embedded in the pioneering work of Bramah and later contributors. The demand for high dynamic performance has been satisfied by advances in components and the fusion of technologies. A central theme is the importance of developing effective tools for system synthesis. It is shown that research in progress will ensure a future for fluid power in the twenty-first century.