The development of new actuation systems for mechatronic toys

Abstract

The actuation systems currently used in low-cost mechatronic toys have numerous areas for potential improvement. The development of a new actuation system that is more efficient, produces a more realistic product, or is cheaper has the potential to significantly increase both the quality of the final product and its market viability. Research into potential ways to improve these systems has resulted in three new potential technologies, flexible shafts, output switching, and voice coil actuators using flexural transmission. Each of these products is still in the initial stages of development, but each also has the potential to significantly increase the realism of current and future toys. The most developed of these ideas is use of voice coils with flexural transmissions. This system has the potential to generate significant torque outputs without large, multi-stage transmissions, potentially resulting in significant reductions in unwanted mechanical noise.