For the automotive sector, the x-by-wire revolution is on the verge. Replacing mechanical linkages with electronic control has distinct demands on the motor system, essential for the actuation of acceleration, steering, braking, and in the future, 360-degree LiDAR vision systems. Precise control is required for performance and safety, and low weight to optimise fuel or battery efficiency is vital too. But as ever with the automotive sector, development must be balanced with value for the global market. So what are the options for car manufacturers and their suppliers? Thibaut Marqueyrol, maxon’s head of automotive solutions, explains.
Drive specialist, maxon, is launching five exciting new products at the exhibition in Nuremberg. Among the highlights are the IDX 56 industrial motors combined with angular gearheads and absolute encoders. maxon is also introducing the ESCON2 Module 60/30, a next-generation servo controller featuring the latest technology. Another notable innovation is a sterilizable and high-torque version of the configurable GPX HP gearhead. Rounding off the range of new products is the expanded EC frameless DT motor portfolio and the TSX RIO optical encoder, which is now also available for maxon’s EC-i 40 and EC-i 52 motors.
Understanding fleeting astronomical activity like supernovae and gamma ray bursts can tell us more about the origins of the cosmos. But, as many of these events explode in distant galaxies and are over shortly after they have begun, studying them is challenging. Soon, a new type of automated telescope is set to shed new light on these phenomena. To achieve this, the telescope has to be very fast to target, and highly sensitive. The motion solution, provided by maxon, that drives part of the telescope’s instrumentation array, is vital to this operation.
From oil & gas installations to submarines, structures operating in deep sea conditions need regular inspection. Remote operated vehicles (ROVs) make this process much safer and less expensive, and they rely on scanning technology, which is crucial to data collection. Precise motion control is helping a new subsea inspection device achieve highly accurate inspection with the fastest-yet speeds of data collection.
A new study at the University of Bath is investigating how rapidly deploying spoiler-like devices, called mini-tabs, could help future eVTOL designs fly faster. Mini-tabs could aerodynamically counteract the damaging vibrations caused by whirl flutter - a catastrophic instability that occurs at high flight speeds. maxon has provided the motion solution to test the effectiveness of mini-tabs on a novel wind tunnel test rig.
With omnidirectional movement and smart docking with virtually any warehouse cart in under 20 seconds, these new robots are making material handling faster and safer.
A real electric car in miniature is giving children as young as four the opportunity to start their driving career early. With lessons from £20, the aim is to set children on course for excellent road safety and driving skills before these young drivers pass their test for real. Young Driver Motor Cars is providing this realistic driving experience using maxon motors.
When selecting a DC micromotor for use in applications from aerospace through to downhole drilling inspection, a 4pole motor has advantages. A 4pole design is stronger than a 2pole equivalent but can also fit within the same space and weight envelope. Greg Dutfield of maxon UK explains
maxon is launching five new products. All products are designed with particularly efficient use of resources and compactness in mind. They include the ECX SPEED 8 motors with pin connection, the integrated ENX 32 MILE encoder for drives from the ECX flat motor series with 32 mm diameter, as well as the powerful IDX 56 and 70 industrial drives. Now there are even more technical solutions available for extremely compact and tight spaces.
