Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial Environments

This paper presents the development of a quasi-direct drive motor for space applications, which offers opportunities for dynamic applications, such as in walking robots. The use of such a motor in a space environment presents new challenges that make it necessary to go beyond the conventional design...

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Main Authors: Jonas Eisenmenger, Zhongqian Zhao, Frank Kirchner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Engineering Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/99
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author Jonas Eisenmenger
Zhongqian Zhao
Frank Kirchner
author_facet Jonas Eisenmenger
Zhongqian Zhao
Frank Kirchner
author_sort Jonas Eisenmenger
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents the development of a quasi-direct drive motor for space applications, which offers opportunities for dynamic applications, such as in walking robots. The use of such a motor in a space environment presents new challenges that make it necessary to go beyond the conventional design for terrestrial applications. To achieve this, the DFKI-X2D joint was developed as part of the MODKOM project. As an approach, an in-runner and an out-runner motor are developed as prototypes and subjected to several functional tests, including tests on a motor test bench, in a climate chamber, and via vibration tests. During these tests, the in-runner approach showed advantages, especially in thermal terms, and based on the findings, a final iteration was designed as the space version, which will undergo additional environmental testing in the future to move towards TRL 5.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2673-4591
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series Engineering Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-eafc0edc931e49529230756bf41e2df32025-08-20T03:24:37ZengMDPI AGEngineering Proceedings2673-45912025-04-019019910.3390/engproc2025090099Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial EnvironmentsJonas Eisenmenger0Zhongqian Zhao1Frank Kirchner2DFKI GmbH, 28359 Bremen, GermanyDFKI GmbH, 28359 Bremen, GermanyDFKI GmbH, 28359 Bremen, GermanyThis paper presents the development of a quasi-direct drive motor for space applications, which offers opportunities for dynamic applications, such as in walking robots. The use of such a motor in a space environment presents new challenges that make it necessary to go beyond the conventional design for terrestrial applications. To achieve this, the DFKI-X2D joint was developed as part of the MODKOM project. As an approach, an in-runner and an out-runner motor are developed as prototypes and subjected to several functional tests, including tests on a motor test bench, in a climate chamber, and via vibration tests. During these tests, the in-runner approach showed advantages, especially in thermal terms, and based on the findings, a final iteration was designed as the space version, which will undergo additional environmental testing in the future to move towards TRL 5.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/99space roboticsquasi-direct drivespace technologywalking robotsmotor
spellingShingle Jonas Eisenmenger
Zhongqian Zhao
Frank Kirchner
Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial Environments
Engineering Proceedings
space robotics
quasi-direct drive
space technology
walking robots
motor
title Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial Environments
title_full Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial Environments
title_fullStr Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial Environments
title_full_unstemmed Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial Environments
title_short Development of Quasi-Direct Drive Motor for Walking Robots in Extraterrestrial Environments
title_sort development of quasi direct drive motor for walking robots in extraterrestrial environments
topic space robotics
quasi-direct drive
space technology
walking robots
motor
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4591/90/1/99
work_keys_str_mv AT jonaseisenmenger developmentofquasidirectdrivemotorforwalkingrobotsinextraterrestrialenvironments
AT zhongqianzhao developmentofquasidirectdrivemotorforwalkingrobotsinextraterrestrialenvironments
AT frankkirchner developmentofquasidirectdrivemotorforwalkingrobotsinextraterrestrialenvironments