Actueren

Actueren is a Dutch verb meaning to actuate or to operate a device, typically via an actuator, in response to a control signal. In engineering and automation contexts, actueren describes the execution phase whereby a control system translates a command into physical action.

An actuator is a component that converts energy—electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic—into motion or force. Actueren therefore covers turning a digital or analog signal into movement, such as opening a valve, moving a robotic arm, activating a pump, or adjusting a lever. The process is distinct from sensing, data processing, or decision-making; actueren is the actuation step that realizes a commanded action.

In Dutch, the corresponding noun for the act is actuatie, and devices that perform this function are called actuatoren. In practice, actueren is common in control theory, mechatronics, robotics, and process automation. The term is typically used in technical registers and model-based descriptions of control loops.

Notes: The verb is primarily used in technical contexts; everyday language may use synonyms such as activeren or aansturen depending on context.