Innovative Motor and Generator Technologies

The project includes the development of innovative motor and gearing technology to create improved electro-mechanical actuators (EMA) for NAVSEA and other applications. UQM will develop four different versions of the EMA motor to isolate the performance enhancements related to each of the innovative concepts proposed for development within this project. These concepts include the patent pending Locking Internal Permanent Magnet (LIPM) motor geometry, Local Reluctance Enhancement (LRE) of material properties in the bridge regions of the rotor, as well as the use of high saturation stator and rotor laminations, currently used nearly exclusively in the aerospace industry. The gearing will be developed by UQM's subcontractor, the University of Texas, using a compact and durable approach called Star Compound Gear Reduction technology. The combination of innovative motor and gearing technology will create compact 10,000 in-lb valve actuator prototypes in Phase II. Success in this application will lead to other military motor/gearbox applications, including larger actuators, electric drives, electric starters, and generators. The ubiquitous presence of electric motor/generators within the military makes this a high payoff program, if successful.