Characterization of Small DC Brushed and Brushless Motors

Abstract

Micro brushed and brushless motors of the size typically used on micro-ground vehicles and micro-air vehicles have been found to have very low efficiencies. This lack of efficiency not only stems from low manufacturing tolerances, but is also because motors at these scales are generally operated over a large range of loading conditions causing them to operate off design point. This technical report: (1) provides a basis for a simple motor analysis, comparing analysis with actual motor test data, (2) examines the efficiencies of many of the off-the-shelf brushed and brushless motors used in micro vehicle applications, and (3) provides a methodology for proper motor selection, emphasizing the importance in ensuring motor loading conditions are matched to the motor design in order to maximize power efficiency.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA577582

Entities

People

  • Aaron M. Harrington
  • Christopher Kroninger

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Armatures
  • Brushless Dc Motors
  • Dc Motors
  • Diagrams
  • Efficiency
  • Electronics
  • Ground Vehicles
  • Measurement
  • Metal Oxide Semiconductors
  • Micro Air Vehicles
  • Permanent Magnets
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Semiconductors
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Ground Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Systems Analysis and Design