This has been one of his quixotic issues for years. He is convinced he is right about the glory of steam and that magnets quit working if they get wet. But supporters who want to backfill this obsession claim it is because he recognizes the danger of relying on rare earth commodities and related tech on our warships and wants to return to something we don’t need any foreign materials to build or maintain.
Good question — it depends on what kind of precision, reliability, and environment you mean. Here’s a breakdown comparing electronic servo motors, hydraulics, and steam systems across key factors:
1. Precision (Accuracy and Control)
Electronic Servo Motors
Most precise
Controlled by microprocessors and feedback sensors (encoders or resolvers).
Positioning accuracy can be within micrometers.
Excellent repeatability and fast response.
Hydraulics
Very powerful and smooth motion, but harder to control precisely due to fluid compressibility, temperature changes, and potential leaks.
Modern electro-hydraulic systems can improve precision but still lag behind servos.
Steam
Least precise; relies on pressure and valves, not suited for fine motion control.
Response time is slow and pressure fluctuates with temperature.
Winner: Electronic servo motors — far more precise.
2. Reliability (Durability and Maintenance)
Electronic Servo Motors
Very reliable in clean environments.
Sensitive to heat, moisture, and dust.
Require little maintenance but can fail from electronics or motor wear.
Hydraulics
Extremely durable in harsh conditions (construction, aviation, heavy industry).
Can handle shock loads and overloads.
Requires regular maintenance (leak checks, fluid changes).
Steam
Mechanically robust, but energy-inefficient and maintenance-heavy (boilers, seals, scaling).
Rarely used today for actuation.
Winner: Hydraulics — best for reliability in rugged environments.
3. Power Density (Force Output)
Hydraulics
Most powerful
Can deliver massive force in a small package.
Used in excavators, aircraft landing gear, presses.
Electronic Servos
Great torque-to-size for small and medium loads.
Power drops off at larger scales (too much current needed).
Steam
Historically powerful but inefficient and difficult to control dynamically.
Winner: Hydraulics — highest power-to-weight ratio.
4. Efficiency and Control
Electronic Servos
Most energy-efficient and responsive.
Excellent for automation, robotics, CNC, and precision manufacturing.
Hydraulics
Energy losses through heat and fluid friction.
Complex control systems required for fine movement.
Steam
Highly inefficient — lots of energy wasted as heat.
Winner: Electronic servo motors — efficient and highly controllable.
Bottom Line:
For precision and control → Electronic servo motors are superior.
For brute force and rugged reliability → Hydraulics win.
Steam is largely obsolete except for specific industrial or heritage systems.
A general look from chatGPT, maybe there is an argument for hydrolics, but he seems to not differentiate between hydrolics and steam. I'm confident he really has no clue.
