MOTORS, DRIVES & CONTROLS
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system takes over. It is another robotic arm, a much smaller one called SHA. T is arm takes the sample from the carousel, moves it to the volume assessment and scanning stations, then to the sealing station, and fi nally into temporary storage – all autonomously. T is is where maxon comes in. Several BLDC motors are being used to handle the samples. Some of them are installed in the SHA robotic arm, which transports the samples from station to station; others are used when sealing the sample tubes and positioning them.
THE SAME KEY TO SUCCESS Just like the more than 100 maxon drives that have previously done work on Mars, the Perseverance motors are based on standard catalogue products: specifi cally, nine brushless DC motors of the EC 32 fl at type and one of the EC 20 fl at type, in combination with a GP 22 UP planetary gearhead. Of course, modifi cations were required so that the drives could meet the high demands of the mission. Nevertheless, the basis of the drives is no diff erent from the models that are used in all kinds of applications on Earth.
Maxon’s EC 20 fl at with GP 22 UP
maxon’s engineers have modifi ed a
nd repeatedly tested the motors and gearheads for three years, working closely with the specialists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which handles all unmanned missions for NASA. T e space experts from Pasadena were frequent visitors at the Swiss headquarters of the electric motor experts. “We’ve learned a lot from this collaboration,” said Robin Phillips, head of the maxon SpaceLab. T is can be seen specifi cally in higher quality standards and new test procedures and processes. “Customers from other industries, such asthe medical sector, where requirements
are often similar, also benefi t from this know-how.” Orders for space applications still only make up a small part, but they help to improve the quality of the products. And they naturally exert a special fascination on the employees involved. Or as Kathrin Tschersich, Head of Assembly Project Samples at maxon, puts it: “It makes me very proud to know that products that have passed through my hands are being used on Mars.”
Stefan Roschi is with maxon.
www.maxongroup.com
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