Jousien käyttäminen energian kulutuksen vähentämiseksi robotiikassa

A research venture funded by the National Science Foundation last week sheds some insight on how springs could make motors more efficient in the future. The tutkimus was put forth by two mechanical engineers, Erez Krimsky and Steven H. Collins. In their report, they go into detail about the benefits of a spring hybrid motor before revealing a working prototype.  Here’s what you need to know.

Why Springs Could Be the Answer

Springs may seem like an unlikely solution to motors wearing out or requiring massive energy usage. However, some unique characteristics make springs ideally suited for this task. For one, they can produce torque without requiring energy.

Springs can store elastic energy, when stretched, with nearly no loss. This elastic energy can be converted directly into mechanical force efficiently. Additionally, springs can be adjusted or used in tandem to increase or decrease torque when required.

Challenges to Overcome

There have been some intuitive minds in the past that recognized springs’ potential to store and convert energy. However, some distinct challenges needed to be overcome for any of these past projects to succeed. For one, springs are notoriously hard to control.

Yes, if you pull a spring it will bounce back. The problem is making a spring that will bounce back at the same rate over thousands or millions of uses. As such, one of the first things the engineers needed to figure out was how to control the springs they wanted to integrate.

New Spring Design

After a little deliberation, they decided that a new design was required. They created a completely new lightweight elastic energy-activated spring setup for the project. These springs are made of an elastic material that’s stretched across the frame taught. When an electric current is applied, the spring pulls back and tightens. This strategy allowed the developers to stack four springs next to each other.

The use of multiple springs adds additional torque and control options to the motor. Users can engage one or multiple springs when power requirements rise. This approach enabled them to create a small version of their motor, which could be used in commercial and robotic applications in the future.

The Prototype – Recycling Actuator

The official prototype of the parallel-elastic actuator motor is already in the testing phases. This tiny motor integrates four electrostatic springs that run in parallel. This structure also enables the motor to leverage the springs to lower workload, add power, and reduce mechanical wear.

Test Results Show Promise

The report showed some impressive test results from the prototype. The developers put the actuator through multiple cyclic test cases to try and gauge the effects of the springs on the device. It became clear from the start that the springs improved efficiency considerably.

What’s more interesting is that the developers found that the springs acted like a gearbox on a motor in that you could switch gears to get more torque. Unlike traditional gearboxes that require mechanical clutches to alter torque, this setup seamlessly integrates electric clutches that activate when needed.

Electroadhesive Clutches

The use of pairs of electroadhesive clutches to keep springs locked with tension was a major innovation. These clutches were made to be as thin as possible to reduce weight. They are dielectric-coated and can pass with no friction when not charged. Notably, the clutches lock in place when voltage is applied to them.

This style of electric clutch requires minimum power and provides near-instant responsiveness, Additionally, they offer high efficiency compared to mechanical options and can be produced cheaply. These factors mean their use in electrostatic spring motors could become the norm.

Benefits Spring Motors Bring to the Market

There are many benefits that this style of motor brings into the market. For one, it improves efficiency in a huge sector of the market. These devices are built to be energy-efficient and sustainable. Additionally, their lightweight design requires far less energy to transport or operate.

Reduce Motor Wear

Another major advantage of this style of motor is that it reduces wear. Motors today are responsible for handling all aspects of their mechanical movements. This means that a motor that stamps an item on an assembly line uses its energy to stamp and lift the stamp following the action.

Envision the same robot, but his time, it only has to stamp down. Springs then engage and lift the plate back up. This style of spring integration could reduce motor wear significantly by eliminating half of its operating cycle. It also reduces thermal wear. Hot motors run less efficiently and are more prone to breakdowns.

In theory, spring-powered motors could last twice as long as their fully mechanical counterparts. They would require less energy to operate and would be easier to ship or operate on the go. These factors continue to cause more researchers to delve into the sector.

Versatility

The researchers’ spring motor proved to be versatile. The mechanical setup enables each spring to be individually engaged and disengaged when needed. This structure also provides fine control and eliminates energy losses.

As robotics expand, there’s a continued demand for units that have fine motor skills. Surprisingly, it’s easier to find a robot that can lift a car than one that can pick up an egg without breaking it. Spring actuator motors could be the missing link in this quest as they enable engineers to apply exact fine pressure when needed without adding weight.

Higher Energy Efficiency

The use of springs to cut the operating cycle of motors makes sense and the data proves it. The researcher report shows that their motor reduced energy consumption by 50% on average. The study revealed that, depending on the task, the power savings could be up to 97%. As such, there’s a lot of hype surrounding how these motors will one day enable devices to go farther and operate longer than ever.

Store Energy Efficiently

Another huge benefit is the ability of engineers to integrate elastic energy recovery to power batteries. Springs can be used as a mechanical battery or in conjunction with traditional forms of batteries to improve storage and conversion efficiency. The engineer’s use of low-power clutches is an example of how this tech could power the batteries of the future.

Market Impacts

This latest development has the potential to upend a variety of markets that are dependent on or are growing in dependency, on robots. Spring motors could help create low-energy robotic systems that could handle long days of work without charge.

The tech revolution is already here and everyday robots take over more day-to-day tasks from humans. As these devices become aware of their surroundings, add capabilities, and learn to communicate fluently with humans, the demand for low-power motors will increase exponentially.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing and industrial sectors have sought out low-power robots for decades. massive firms have already invested billions into their robotic infrastructure. These early robots saved them billions but required a lot of energy and upkeep due to their design.

The next generation of robots will cost less to operate, be smarter, and require less maintenance. These devices are already making their way into the market leveraging advanced AI systems. In the future, spring motors could help manufacturers slash their costs in half while improving the quality of their products.

Healthcare

When you think of robotics, healthcare may not be the first industry that comes to mind. The robotic healthcare integration has been going on for decades now and this latest development could help to put things into hyperdrive. The lightweight and durable nature of spring motors could one day make prosthetics or exoskeletons more accessible.

Robots are already auttavat people with disabilities enjoy more fulfilling lives. Making these devices lighter and more efficient opens the door for new people to gain help. Notably, there are already a variety of interesting healthcare projects underway that combine robots and healthcare to improve lives.

AI could be the Key

The use of electrostatic springs to alleviate motor workload is a huge step towards making truly sustainable robots. The other side of that equation is determining the thresholds and capabilities of the materials used in these devices. AI has proven to be an invaluable tool on the journey.

It has helped develop and configure new designs, virtually test scenarios, and program deep learning algorithms. Together these developments have helped to make AI robotics the next frontier.

Robotics Market on the Move

It only takes a glimpse to see that the robotics sector is one of the hottest markets in tech. From large firms seeking to implement these devices to cut operating costs to startups pushing the boundaries of the technology, there are a lot of projects worth checking out. Here are a few robotics firms to keep tabs on.

1. ABB Ltd

ABB Ltd. was Launched in 1988 and has operations in Switzerland. The firm’s robotic division has been a pioneer in the market for decades. ABB robots can be found all over the globe. The manufacturer has produced and shipped +500K units to date.

ABB is one of the top-performing manufacturers globally. The company employs +11K experts and has operations in over 53 countries. Today, they remain a pioneering force that offers a vast array of robotic solutions to industrial partners.

2. KUKA

KUKA is a German robotics manufacturer that was purchased by the Chinese Midea Group in 2016. The firm offers intelligent robotic solutions that include full automation and centralized control options. KUKA remains a driving force for innovation and offers solutions that span from simple robots to entire systems.

KUKA employs +14k robotic experts and conducts +3.2B in sales annually. Its commitment to quality and innovation has helped the manufacturer become one of the most recognized names in the robotics market. Expect to see growth from this group as it expands its operations to meet consumer demand.

3. HoneyBee Robotics

Honey Bee Robotics is a major player in the defense and space exploration sectors. Impressively, the group has worked with NASA on numerous occasions in the past. Additionally, it’s currently working with researchers to create robotic mining systems that can operate in low-gravity environments and more.

HoneyBee’s intelligent excavation systems are already in use internationally. These products make it easy to conduct drilling and sample tests in real-time across a large area. The firm also makes defense robots designed to help soldiers in the field.

Startups Pushing the Envelope

A lot of the developments in the robotic sector come from the growing number of startups entering the market. These firms want to take the robotic experience to new heights via their creative strategies and business models.

OutRider

Mowing your lawn on a hot summer day can seem like torture especially if you have a yard that requires constant maintenance to even look acceptable. Outrider solves this problem with the introduction of intelligent landscaping robots.

These devices create a real-time site structure, enabling them to conduct complex maneuvers. They can even team up to get large jobs done faster. Those who spend thousands maintaining their massive properties or businesses will find these high-efficiency robotic landscape solutions make sense.

Robots Spring into Action

It’s interesting to see that the concept of using springs has re-emerged as one of the best ways to drive robotics forward. These systems encapsulate the engineering spirit and could make life easier for millions. For these reasons, you have to congratulate these researchers and all those journeying alongside them to make low-power robots a reality.