Abstract: A self-contained actuator for use in a robot manipulator includes: a housing, in which are arranged in axial sequence a gear, a motor, a brake, a sensor and a motor drive. The motor drive includes wide-bandgap/WBG electronics and is arranged in heat-dissipating relationship with a free end of the housing. Through the motor and some further components, there is provided a central channel for receiving a cable connected to at least one further actuator of the robot manipulator. The channel may be angled or straight. In embodiments where the motor drive is hollow, the central channel extends between the axial ends of the actuator. There is further provided an all-in-one industrial robot comprising a robot manipulator, in which one or more self-contained actuators with the above characteristics are installed and a robot controller is physically integrated.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electrical machines, such as liquid-cooled motors. The liquid-cooled motors can include a stator with cooling tube channels (e.g., corrugated channels) having tubes inserted and expanded. Lamination holes for each lamination in the lamination stack of the stator can have varying diameter along the axial direction to achieve a corrugated internal feature. The tubes for cooling liquid can be fitted in the lamination holes of the stator. In some embodiments, hydraulic expansion expands and plastically deforms the tubes to the contour of the corrugated internal feature of the corrugated channel. In some embodiments, the tube can also be inserted in the corrugated channel and a stator head plate, thereby helping create a compact stator by removing the need for tube connections to connect the corrugated channels.

Abstract: A system for determining at least one mechanical property of a mechanical power transmitter may use thermal sensor data. The system may include the mechanical power transmitter; at least one thermal sensor disposed on or in the mechanical power transmitter; and a controller configured to receive data from the at least one thermal sensor and to process the data using a model based on machine learning to determine the at least one mechanical property of the mechanical power transmitter.

Abstract: A life prediction system for industrial mechanical power transmission equipment is provided. The system includes a life prediction computing device, the life prediction computing device including at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, and the at least one processor programmed to receive data of a gearbox measured by one or more sensors, predict remaining useful lifetime of the gearbox based on the received data by using a machine learning model, and output the predicted life of the gearbox.

Abstract: A method of estimating an operating parameter of industrial mechanical power transmission equipment is provided. The method includes acquiring data of a first parameter of the gearbox using a sensor, inferring a second parameter of a gearbox based on the acquired data of the first parameter by using a machine learning model, wherein the second parameter is of a different type from the first parameter and includes at least one of a torque of the gearbox, a rotational speed of the gearbox, or an overhung shaft force of the gearbox, and outputting the estimated second parameter.

Abstract: A sensor system for monitoring a device, the sensor system including a housing, a base configured to attach the sensor system to the device to be monitored, a sensor configured to obtain data related to at least one operating parameter of the device, and an integral energy harvesting device configured to provide at least a portion of the energy required to operate the sensor system.

Abstract: A method for predicting and updating gearbox lifetime expectancies is provided. The method includes: determining, by a computing system, a lifetime expectancy of a gearbox located at a first location; obtaining, by the computing system and from a computing device at the first location, sensor measurements associated with the gearbox; updating, by the computing system, the lifetime expectancy of the gearbox based on the sensor measurements; and causing, by the computing system, display of the updated lifetime expectancy of the gearbox.

Abstract: The rotor of a rotor assembly for an electric machine includes first magnetic structures utilized for torque production in the electric machine. Second magnetic structures including second magnetic poles not utilized for torque production in the electric machine are polymer-bonded to at least one of the rotor and the rotor shaft.

Abstract: There are disclosed winding configurations for electric machines that employ printed circuit board (PCB) type end winding connections to enable an automatic and faster assembly of the electric machines. The winding configurations provide a compact PCB-type end winding arrangement with an optimal fewer number of turns/bars in the slots of the board to complete the loop of winding connections. The winding configurations have application in three phase or multiple phase inner rotor or outer rotor electric machine topologies.

Abstract: The rotor of a rotor assembly for an electric machine includes first magnetic structures utilized for torque production in the electric machine. Second magnetic structures including second magnetic poles not utilized for torque production in the electric machine are polymer-bonded to at least one of the rotor and the rotor shaft.

Abstract: An electrical motor is provided to reduce torque ripple. Torque ripple is a variation in torque output as the rotor rotates. The motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator slots are used for windings. The rotor slots define a plurality of poles. The number of slots in the stator are equal to the number of slots in the rotor.

Abstract: A sliding contact assembly for a DC electrical outlet receives plug contacts of an electrical plug. The assembly includes sliding contact structure having a base and a plurality of electrical sliding contacts fixed to the base. A housing includes a first end wall having an internal top surface and second end wall opposing the first end wall. The second end wall has an internal bottom surface. The housing has a side wall structure defining an internal chamber between the top surface and the bottom surface. The sliding contact structure is disposed in the housing to be movable linearly within the chamber. A spring is disposed between the top surface of the housing and a surface of the base so that when the plug contacts are completely disconnected from the associated sliding contacts, the spring rapidly forces the sliding contacts away from the plug contacts, reducing arcing energy there-between.

Abstract: An electrical machine includes a stator core and a plurality of windings subdivided into a plurality of multiphase motor cells, each multiphase motor cell having M windings associated therewith, and having a phase shift relative to other multiphase motor cells. The electrical machine may include N inverter cells coupled in series; wherein each inverter cell is a multiphase inverter; and wherein the voltage magnitude supplied to a corresponding multiphase motor cell is VDC/N. The electrical machine may include a sensor system in communication with the plurality of inverter cells and operative to commutate each inverter cell in a sequence.

Abstract: An electrical motor is provided to reduce torque ripple. Torque ripple is a variation in torque output as the rotor rotates. The motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator slots are used for windings. The rotor slots define a plurality of poles. The number of slots in the stator are equal to the number of slots in the rotor.

Abstract: There are disclosed winding configurations for electric machines that employ printed circuit board (PCB) type end winding connections to enable an automatic and faster assembly of the electric machines. The winding configurations provide a compact PCB-type end winding arrangement with an optimal fewer number of turns/bars in the slots of the board to complete the loop of winding connections.

Abstract: A sliding contact assembly for a DC electrical outlet receives plug contacts of an electrical plug. The assembly includes sliding contact structure having a base and a plurality of electrical sliding contacts fixed to the base. A housing includes a first end wall having an internal top surface and second end wall opposing the first end wall. The second end wall has an internal bottom surface. The housing has a side wall structure defining an internal chamber between the top surface and the bottom surface. The sliding contact structure is disposed in the housing to be movable linearly within the chamber. A spring is disposed between the top surface of the housing and a surface of the base so that when the plug contacts are completely disconnected from the associated sliding contacts, the spring rapidly forces the sliding contacts away from the plug contacts, reducing arcing energy there-between.

Abstract: An electrical machine includes a stator core and a plurality of windings subdivided into a plurality of multiphase motor cells, each multiphase motor cell having M windings associated therewith, and having a phase shift relative to other multiphase motor cells. The electrical machine may include N inverter cells coupled in series; wherein each inverter cell is a multiphase inverter; and wherein the voltage magnitude supplied to a corresponding multiphase motor cell is VDC/N. The electrical machine may include a sensor system in communication with the plurality of inverter cells and operative to commutate each inverter cell in a sequence.

Abstract: Technologies for providing DC arc protection in a DC socket include an electromagnet positioned in the DC socket configured to produce a magnetic field. The electromagnet is positioned to be adjacent to a contact region between one or more supply terminals of a DC socket and one or more prongs of a DC plug. As the DC plug is disconnected from the DC socket, a DC arc might form between one or more of the supply terminals and one or more of the prongs. The magnetic field produced by the electromagnet reduces the energy of the DC arc and reduces the time duration of the DC arc.

Abstract: Technologies for providing DC arc protection in a DC socket include an electromagnet positioned in the DC socket configured to produce a magnetic field. The electromagnet is positioned to be adjacent to a contact region between one or more supply terminals of a DC socket and one or more prongs of a DC plug. As the DC plug is disconnected from the DC socket, a DC arc might form between one or more of the supply terminals and one or more of the prongs. The magnetic field produced by the electromagnet reduces the energy of the DC arc and reduces the time duration of the DC arc.

Abstract: A motor control system is provided. The motor control system includes a motor, a position sensor, a current sensor, and a control module. The motor has a rotor and a stator. The motor generates an output torque based on a phase current applied to the motor. The output torque generated by the motor creates a torque ripple that is within a predefined range. The position sensor monitors the motor to determine a rotor position. The current sensor monitors the motor to determine the phase current. The control module is in communication with the motor, the position sensor, and the current sensor. The control module includes a lookup table that stores values of phase current commands. The control module determines a phase current command from the lookup table based on the rotor position and the phase current.