Hydraulic cylinders are divided into single-rod asymmetric cylinders and double-rod symmetric cylinders. The single-rod asymmetric cylinder has the advantages of small size and simple structure,but its speed characteristic is not symmetric. The double rod symmetric cylinder has the characteristic of symmetric speed,but it cannot be used in some special occasions. In this paper,one special hydraulic cylinder,a single-rod symmetric cylinder,is developed. Firstly,characters of this type of cylinder are introduced. Then,the system model is constructed by using one software which is Simulation X. Moreover,one single rod asymmetric cylinder is designed and the test rig using the symmetric valve to control single-rod symmetric or asymmetric cylinder is constructed. Both of the simulation and experimental results show that the symmetric valve control single-rod symmetric cylinder servo system is of symmetric speed characteristic,which can be used in practical occasion.