Pneumatics has a surprisingly long tradition: Even as early as the third century BC, Greek mathematician and inventor Ctesibius was experimenting with compressed air and using it to power machines. His first pneumatic machine was a pump used to lift water. It was followed by clocks, catapults and organs all using compressed air.
Thereafter, the extreme versatility of compressed air was recognised as pneumatics began to be used in more and more areas. Steam engines, steam locomotives, diving with compressed air, painting, airbrush technologies, compressed air sirens, speed measurement with nozzles on aeroplanes – these are all applications of pneumatics, and show how useful and variable this relatively simple technology can be.
Today, pneumatics is part of all of our everyday lives. It serves countless purposes, from pumping up a balloon to operating jackhammers used to build streets, lightweight compressed air hammer drills for household use, vacuuming out air before sealing foods, and even large industrial systems. Pneumatics is a broad field of study!