The reason this bicycle can stop on a dime, is fluid power. [SOUND] >> The reason this large construction machine can dig a precision hole and can tip back on its heels, is fluid power. >> And the reason this log is split, is fluid power. [SOUND] Hi, my name is Jim Van de Ven. >> And I'm Will Durfee. Jim and I are professors as the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and are the instructors for Fundamentals of Fluid Power. >> Fluid power is the use of a confined pressurized fluid to transmit force and motion. Fluid power has the highest power density of all conventional power transmission technologies, and is unsurpassed in its force to weight ratio. Fluid power is everywhere, from the bicycle brakes, construction excavator, and log splitter that you saw in the opening videos. To precision manipulators that place electrodes in the brain, to high acceleration amusement park rides, and to emerging lightweight powered exoskeletons. In fact, a recent study determined fluid power systems consume 2 to 3% of the total energy that's used in the United States. That's about 2.5 quadrillion BTUs per year. >> In this course, you will learn how core fluid power components work, and how to use mathematical equations to describe their behavior. This includes the equations that describe this cylinder, this valve and this pump. >> You will also learn how to predict the performance of complex fluid power systems through simulation using the Sim Hydraulics package for MathWorks. You will learn about the key properties of the fluid itself that impact its ability to transmit force and motion. You will analyze advanced systems such as this multi axis vehicle shaker that uses servo valves, and a hydraulic hybrid vehicle that stores and releases energy from an accumulator. >> We hope that you will join us for this course. By the end, you will even understand why I'm able to make such a clean cut using this mowing machine.