Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

hi,
I want to create something similar to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMf2XtTcnqY . So what I will be doing is inflating a bladder, keeping it in the inflated position and later deflating it without any manual intervention. I think I need an electric air pump, some solenoid valves and a rubber bladder. I am not sure of which type of solenoid valves to use (on googling I found out that there were many kinds of solenoid valves) and how to control the switching on and off of the electric air pump and valves - in short the circuit diagram.

shrewquest - Obviously many ways to approach this problem. The YouTube video you attached appears to be from a blood pressure monitor system, the bladder from the arm cuff. You might want to simply use that approach as all the parts, compressor, bladder and solenoid are there. A used monitor might be available through a thrift shop.

Rick Marz