2026-09-19T20:24:55Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1271522021-07-05T14:03:20Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131023
Haruhiko Harry Asada.
Bell, John Harry,IV.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
2020-09-03T17:49:36Z
2020-09-03T17:49:36Z
2020
2020
https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127152
1191839946
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, May, 2020
Cataloged from the official PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 49-50).
In many robotics and mechatronics applications, actuators must bear a large load at low speeds and also move at high speeds. A single geared motor with a fixed gear ratio is unable to cover the two extreme load conditions effectively. Here, I propose a dual-motor actuator made by combining two electric motors with different gear ratios. Unlike prior works, where two operation ranges are switched by clutch, brake, and other mechanical means, the proposed design does not require any mechanical switches, but instead uses an electrical switch. At higher speeds, the motor with a high gear ratio, called the torque booster, is electrically disconnected from the drive amplifier, so that it does not generate a reverse current and thereby consume power as a generator. First, the design concept is presented, followed by modeling of the system as a hybrid control system. A basic control scheme for distributing drive currents to the two motors is presented, and an example of time-optimal control of the hybrid system is addressed. A proof-of-concept prototype is built and the control algorithms are implemented and tested experimentally.
by John Harry Bell, IV.
S.M.
S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering
50 pages
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Mechanical Engineering.
A two-motor actuator for legged robotics applications
Thesis
application/pdf
2020-09-03T17:49:36Z
Publication
Master
MechE
unknown
unknown
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<Abstract>In many robotics and mechatronics applications, actuators must bear a large load at low speeds and also move at high speeds. A single geared motor with a fixed gear ratio is unable to cover the two extreme load conditions effectively. Here, I propose a dual-motor actuator made by combining two electric motors with different gear ratios. Unlike prior works, where two operation ranges are switched by clutch, brake, and other mechanical means, the proposed design does not require any mechanical switches, but instead uses an electrical switch. At higher speeds, the motor with a high gear ratio, called the torque booster, is electrically disconnected from the drive amplifier, so that it does not generate a reverse current and thereby consume power as a generator. First, the design concept is presented, followed by modeling of the system as a hybrid control system. A basic control scheme for distributing drive currents to the two motors is presented, and an example of time-optimal control of the hybrid system is addressed. A proof-of-concept prototype is built and the control algorithms are implemented and tested experimentally.</Abstract>
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