Optimization of transverse flux motor for utilization in bionic joints

Abstract

Though there have been remarkable advances in powered prosthesis technology over the past decade, design limitations of commercial electric motors are one of the main bottlenecks in meeting critical device requirements, such as minimum range on a single battery charge and acoustic emission restrictions. Traditional motor design focuses on motor development for operation at specific torques and velocities, but a motor design which minimizes the power loss over the torque-velocity profile of a bionic ankle is more precisely what is needed for our application. Considering the design requirement in this way lays the groundwork for a new design framework. Leveraging this problem statement, we herein develop a new motor design process generalizable to all applications requiring a variable but cyclic torque-velocity profile. We present a motor optimization package for cyclic variable torque-velocity motor design and demonstrate its viability in constrained optimization of a transverse flux motor for use in a bionic ankle. We further evaluate and present the intended use of this transverse flux motor for application in bionic joints, along with advantages and design hurdles of the planned system.