3-DOF Outer Rotor Electromagnetic Spherical Actuator

Abstract

Conventionally, many single-degree-of-freedom (single-DOF) actuators have been used to realize devices with multiple-degrees-of-freedom (multi-DOF). However, this makes their structures larger, heavier, and more complicated. In order to remove these drawbacks, the development of spherical actuators with multi-DOF is necessary. In this paper, we propose a new 3-DOF outer rotor electromagnetic spherical actuator with high torque density and wide rotation angles. The dynamic characteristics are computed employing 3-D FEM and its effectiveness is verified by carrying out measurements on a prototype. Then, in order to realize further high torque density, the electromagnetic pole arrangement is optimized using Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the effectiveness of the optimized stator poles arrangement is verified.