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Backdrivable Actuator

HardwareSafetyActuation

An actuator whose output shaft can be moved by external forces without energizing the motor. Backdrivability is desirable in collaborative robots because it allows safe physical human-robot interaction — if a person pushes the arm, it yields rather than resisting. Series elastic actuators and direct-drive motors are inherently backdrivable; high-ratio gearboxes are typically not.

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