Abstract: A generator system for connection to a vehicle axle. The generator system includes: an electrically-actuated clutch having an engaged position and a disengaged position; a generator and a processor. The generator includes: a rotor configured to be selectively connected, via the clutch, to the vehicle axle; and a stator. In the engaged position, the rotor is connected to the vehicle axle via the clutch such that torque from the vehicle axle is transmitted to the rotor. In the disengaged position, torque from the vehicle axle is not transmitted to the rotor. The processor is configured to control the clutch to actuate between the engaged and disengaged positions, and the processor is configured to monitor an electrical output of the generator, wherein the processor is configured to command the clutch to move to the disengaged position if the electrical output moves outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: In some examples, software CoBot engineering, execution, and monitoring may include extracting a CoBot requirement from a requirement specification for a CoBot that is to be implemented. Based on application of a CoBot description language to the CoBot requirement, a CoBot workflow that specifies a plurality of tasks to be performed by the CoBot may be generated. A determination may be made as to whether a task is to be performed by a bot or by a human. A team that includes a plurality of bots and at least one human may be generated to execute the CoBot workflow. The bots of the team may be prioritized to identify a bot that is a best match to the CoBot requirement. The CoBot that includes configured bots may be deployed in an operational environment to perform the CoBot workflow.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device (AMD) includes an active braking circuit able to quickly stop the movement of the AMD. For example, the device may stop to avoid an obstacle, upon determining a failure of an internal component, upon receipt of a command, and so forth. Responsive to a signal to stop, an active braking circuit uses sensor data from a driving motor moving with a first rotation to actively commutate that motor to an opposite rotation, bringing the AMD quickly to a stop. In some implementations, the active braking circuit may include an independent power source and motor drivers and operate as a backup to a primary braking system.

Abstract: A method for using an active braking mechanism to halt the motion of a treadmill belt, or other exercise machine system, when the engine ceases driving it and to hold the belt, or system, after the brake is engaged. The types of braking systems will generally utilize at least one but often two or more forms of electrical braking. Frictional braking systems may also be present, but the electrical braking systems will generally be primarily responsible for braking the belt at high inclines.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus includes positive-side and negative-side switching elements, positive-side and negative-side gate drive circuits, and a gate signal controller. The positive-side switching element is disposed between a positive-side direct-current bus and an output node. The negative-side switching element is disposed between a negative-side direct-current bus and the output node. The positive-side and negative-side gate drive circuit are configured to turn on and off the positive-side and negative-side switching elements, respectively. The gate signal controller is configured to transmit to the positive-side and negative-side gate drive circuits gate signals to instruct turning on and off the positive-side and negative-side switching elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a permanent magnet motor control method and system. A new structure configuration of a permanent magnet motor has a rotor with two or more permanent magnets attached thereon, a stator wound in a “Y” topology with three coils (windings) arranged at 120 degree among one another, and a neutral point of the wound stator wired in a manner that the voltage at the neutral point may be detected in substantially real time. The detected neutral point voltages are analyzed together with the associated vectors of the excitation current provided to the windings of the stator to determine a speed of the rotor. The determined speed of the rotor is used for vector control.

Abstract: A system for an aircraft includes a compressor for a vapor cycle cooling system (VCCS) for providing cabin air conditioning; an APU for mechanically driving the VCCS compressor; and a starter-generator-motor (SGM) apparatus operable in any of a starter mode, a generator mode, or a motor mode. The SGM apparatus includes: (i) a first coupling element for coupling the SGM apparatus to the APU such that, in the starter mode, the SGM apparatus is used in driving and starting the APU, (ii) a second coupling element for coupling the SGM apparatus to the VCCS compressor such that, in the motor mode, the SGM apparatus mechanically drives the VCCS compressor, and (iii) a set of electrical power terminals at which, in the generator mode, the SGM apparatus provides electrical output power for powering the aircraft electrical system (including the VCCS condenser fan and VCCS evaporator fans) and, in the starter mode and motor mode, the SGM apparatus receives electrical input power from an external electrical power source.

Abstract: A refrigerator and method are provided where the refrigerator includes two or more cooling compartments monitored by temperature sensors and cooled by a plurality of evaporators. The cooling for the evaporators is provided by a compressor operating on a recurring cooling cycle. A processor provides varying levels of voltages to the compressor and sets the recurring cooling cycle. The recurring cooling cycle comprises at least two cooling periods and a rest period. The method includes determines the length of the rest period as compared a predetermined rest period range. When the rest period falls outside the predetermined range, the processor selects the voltage to send to the compressor during a subsequent cooling cycle. The processor selects the voltage based on at least one of the temperature of the first and second compartments and the voltage to the compressor during the cooling cycle.

Abstract: A control circuit for a microelectromechanical element includes: a waveform generator, which is designed to generate a digital trigger signal for the microelectromechanical element, a modulator, which is designed to oversample the digital trigger signal, to subject the signal to a noise shaping, and to output the oversampled and noise-shaped digital trigger signal; and a digital driver device, which is designed to drive the microelectromechanical element using the oversampled and noise-shaped digital trigger signal.

Abstract: An unintentional operation of a door is prevented while the usability of the door is improved. A power back door control device includes: an operation signal acceptor configured to accept an operation signal of a back door opening/closing switch for performing an operation of opening or closing a back door of a vehicle; a controller configured to control opening/closing of the back door via a motor when the operation signal acceptor accepts the operation signal; and a stopping state detector configured to detect whether or not the vehicle is in a stopping state based on information about traveling or stopping of the vehicle acquired by a vehicle-side ECU. When the stopping state detector detects that the vehicle is not in the stopping state, the controller performs fixing control of the back door so as to keep the back door from moving.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a wheel, an electric motor that drives the wheel, a drive torque operator that is operated by an operator, a slip detection unit that detects a slipping state of the wheel, a torque command value calculation unit that calculates a torque command value for the electric motor, and a motor drive unit that drives the electric motor according to a calculated torque command value. When the slip detection unit has not detected a slipping state of the wheel, the torque command value calculation unit calculates a torque command value for the electric motor according to an input to the drive torque operator. When the slip detection unit has detected a slipping state of the wheel, the torque command value calculation unit calculates a torque command value that repeatedly fluctuates alternately between a first value not more than a torque command value at the time when wheel slip has been detected and a second value smaller than the first value.

Abstract: The disclosure herein provides systems for a versatile electric bicycle that is configured to be easily adapted to accommodate various needs and requirements. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may provide features and/or models that are configured to be easily adapted to accommodate parts of varying dimensions, different seating configurations, and/or particular laws and regulations of different jurisdictions.

Abstract: To supply energy to motorised vehicles, a heat engine (SM) is provided to convert heat (106, 107, 108, 114) that accumulates in the vehicle at least partly into kinetic energy of the vehicle and to feed other portions of said lost heat to a heat accumulator (LWS). An optional, mechanical energy accumulator (MES) can take up kinetic energy from a vehicle motor (MGH), store said energy and deliver said energy back to a vehicle motor (MGM when required.

Abstract: The system includes a plurality of vertically spaced medication trays with a base assembly and a motor, responsive to computer commands, mounted on the base assembly. A drive shaft case member extends vertically from the base assembly. A cam assembly includes a plurality of spaced cam members, each cam member having concave portions and lobe portions on a peripheral surface thereof. A first drive clutch selectively engages the motor with both the drive shaft case member and the cam assembly for rotation of both in one direction, while a second drive clutch selectively engages the motor with just the cam assembly for rotation thereof in an opposing direction. The drive shaft case member has a cam follower assembly associated with each cam member, wherein one portion of the cam follower assembly engages the cam element and another portion engages an associated tray when the cam follower engages a selected concave portion on the cam element associated with the tray.

Abstract: A linear actuator system can move a probe along a substantially linear path. The linear actuator system can have a housing with a magnet mounted in the housing creating a magnetic field. An electric coil piston can be slidably mounted in the housing. The coil piston can have a coil for carrying a current and can be disposed for translational movement within the magnetic field in response to current flow through the coil. The probe can be attached to the coil for translational movement with the coil. In addition, a pneumatic cylinder can be connected to the piston configured to apply a force to the piston in response to an activation of the pneumatic cylinder. Accordingly, the linear actuator system can combine the beneficial compact force capability of pneumatic cylinders with the programmable control features of linear electric motors, which can result in highly repeatable, high-force linear actuator systems.

Abstract: An electrical generator utilizes power produced by falling weights. Falling weights are connected to long arms which turn a shaft. The shaft, through a series of gears, provides power to the generator.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for driving a functional body mounted on a vehicle comprises a power supply, an electric motor, and a driving means. The electric motor is connected to the power supply and is started by a power feed from the power supply. The driving means has a spring motor and is connected to the electric motor and the functional body. The driving means accumulates an urging force by winding up the spring motor by the electric motor and driving the functional body by the urging force. This driving apparatus can automatically drive the functional body, can be manufactured inexpensively, and accumulates a driving force to the functional body without giving burdens to an occupant.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for stabilizing the motion of an articulated chain of a chain block, especially to prevent the formation of resonance oscillation of the chain, in which an articulated chain is led across a polygonal chain wheel with non-uniform pitch, which is driven by an electric motor. In order to create a method to prevent the formation of a resonance oscillation of the articulated chain, it is proposed that a periodic and/or stochastic and dampening actuating variable is superimposed on the velocity of the chain wheel (4) and the dampening actuating variable produces a change in the chain velocity so as to prevent a formation of a resonance oscillation. The chain drive with reduced polygon effect is characterized in that an electronic damper (8) is hooked up in front of the electric motor (2), which produces a control of the electric motor (2) such that a formation of a resonance oscillation of the articulated chain (5) is prevented.

Abstract: Force in a direction opposite to an operating direction imparted from a motor to a rotary knob is increased gradually at the start of an operation to an upper limit value with the increase of a rotating angle of the rotary knob in the same direction as the operating direction, and is gradually decreased at the finish of the operation from the upper limit value to 0 with the increase of the rotating angle in the opposite direction to the operating direction. In consequence, when the operation is stopped before or at the time at which force in the opposite direction to the operating direction imparted to the rotary knob reaches the upper value, the rotary knob returns to the angle at which it has existed before operated, and can come to halt without oscillation.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a reciprocating arm vehicular safety device with a magnetized element for preventing inadvertent deployment of the reciprocating arm. The apparatus has a magnetized element on the arm and an electromagnet on a vehicle bumper, the magnetized element and electromagnet disposed so as to engage the arm in a retracted position. When the reciprocating arm is moved to an extended position, current is passed through the electromagnet to repel the magnetized element, thereby allowing the arm to move to the extended position by a motor.

Abstract: An inverter unit is provided with: a case for housing a circuit board on which switching elements, diodes, and a capacitor are mounted; and a heat sink constructed integrally with the case. The inverter unit is mounted to an upper portion of the rotary electric machine by fixing the case to a mounting plate mounted to a boss. In addition, the inverter unit is electrically connected to three phase output terminals projecting out of a rear bracket by means of alternating-current wiring, and is electrically connected to a battery by means of direct-current wiring.

Abstract: The robot arm is composed of two parallel branches (2, 3) formed from a reduced number of segments (5, 6, 7) and connected to each other by a wrist (5) through a wrist holder (8), the directions of which are kept approximately constant by transmissions (12 to 16). The working space of this control arm is large and it is free of any kinetic singularities except at the end positions, and good decoupling of translation and rotation movements is achieved.

Abstract: The master arm comprises two parallel branches (1, 2), preferably symmetric, joining together at a control wrist (7). The branches are formed of segments (3, 4, 5, 6), the first (3) of which extend from a common base (8), and moving away from the base such that the branches move apart from each other and prevent the appearance of kinetic singularities.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a movement device, which makes possible an improved conclusion concerning the cooperation of a person with impaired mobility during training. In a first solution, “active phases”, related to a side, represent a quantity, which corresponds to the time, to the path or to the angle of the active phases traversed. In a second solution, this procedure is related to the actuating elements, considered as a unit. In further parallel solutions, an evaluation takes place with regard to a first quantity, which represents the active phases, and a second quantity, which expresses the passive phases, and moreover for side-related and integral training, that is, training, in which the actuating elements are considered in totality.

Abstract: A runaway protection mechanism is provided which is truly nondestructive in nature and which is highly advantageous for an electric motor used in, for example, an exercise treadmill for driving its moving treadmill belt. In use, the electric motor is connected to an electric power source, such as an alternating-current wall outlet. The runaway protection mechanism includes a disconnect mechanism for disconnecting the motor from the electric power source and thereby deenergizing the motor. The runaway protection mechanism further includes a safety mechanism for comparing the actual motor speed with a desired motor speed and activating the disconnect mechanism when the actual speed exceeds the desired speed by a predetermined amount. In this manner, an orderly and nondestructive shutdown of the motor is accomplished when a fault condition is recognized.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric bicycle comprising an electric motor mounted on the body of the bicycle between the saddle and the outer periphery of the rear wheel, and a belt transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the motor to the rear wheel on speed reduction. The belt transmission mechanism comprises a drive pulley provided between the saddle and the outer periphery of the rear wheel for receiving the power of the motor, a driven pulley having the same diameter as the rim of the rear wheel and rotatable with the rear wheel alongside the rim, and a belt reeved around the drive pulley and the driven pulley. These components realize a simple construction wherein the rotation of the motor can be transmitted to the rear wheel as reduced to the desired speed in a smaller number of stages.

Abstract: One end of a toothed cable is connected to a rear door of a vehicle. The toothed cable moves forward and backward, thus opening and closing the rear door. A drive motor imparts a moving force to the toothed cable. An electromagnetic clutch connects the drive motor to the toothed cable and disconnects the drive motor from the toothed cable. A speed sensor detects the movement of the toothed cable when the electromagnetic clutch is set to a disconnected state. A control unit sets the electromagnetic clutch to a connected state when the movement of the toothed cable is detected and actuates the drive motor to allow the toothed cable to move in the same direction at that in which the toothed cable is moving. When the completely opened or closed rear door is moved to some extent in a closing direction or an opening direction by an operator's hands, the rear door is automatically closed or opened by the drive motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for direct physical interaction between a person and a general purpose manipulator controlled by a computer. The apparatus, known as a collaborative robot or "cobot," may take a number of configurations common to conventional robots. In place of the actuators that move conventional robots, however, cobots use variable transmission elements whose transmission ratio is adjustable under computer control via small servomotors. Cobots thus need few if any powerful, and potentially dangerous, actuators. Instead, cobots guide, redirect, or steer motions that originate with the person. A method is also disclosed for using the cobot's ability to redirect and steer motion in order to provide physical guidance for the person, and for any payload being moved by the person and the cobot. Virtual surfaces, virtual potential fields, and other guidance schemes may be defined in software and brought into physical effect by the cobot.

Abstract: An opening/closing device for an automobile door comprising a speed sensor for detecting a moving speed of a door, a motor for applying an opening/closing assisting force to the door, and a control unit for controlling the driving of the motor, is provided. The control unit includes an acceleration computing unit for differentiating speed signals supplied from the speed sensor to compute accelerations and output acceleration signals and a control variable setting unit for setting control variables of the motor based on acceleration signals from the acceleration computing unit. Thereby, even if a torque sensor for detecting the operating force of a person operating the door is omitted, it is possible to generate control variables corresponding to acceleration signals which are equivalent to control variables corresponding to torque to drive the motor.