Manipulator Drivetrain Design
Problem statement
Handling of radioactive materials is a dangerous, but critical need. With greener sources of energy required in today’s energy landscape there is no shortage of applications for precise radioactive materials handling, whether it be for power generation, research or another need. The application of this design is one that will allow our customer to have confidence they are providing their customers with a safe and state of the art manipulator arm. PAR Systems has been on the leading edge of this niche but indispensable field for 60 years. While some companies may settle with a design that has been sufficient for this long of a time, PAR systems desires to keep pushing the market forward. Because of this long history of innovation, new resources and technologies must be leveraged to make their manipulator arm safer to use and easier to manufacture. New advancements in high reduction gearboxes like cycloidal (Gorla et al., 2008) and harmonic drivetrains (Harmonic Drive, n.d.) will allow for a design with less backdrive and unique external drive opportunities. With a modernizing supply chain and new research into dual input drivelines, like that of dynatorque’s declutchable gear (Anything Flows, 2020), a new design for the manipulator arm’s drivetrain is a necessary challenge to tackle. A new gear train design for PAR system’s manipulator arm will afford their end users a safer and more precise materials handling experience.
Team members
Aidan Cole – facilitator
Jacob Goldade – communicator
Thomas Martin – accountant
Keaton Spindler – admin
Client
Erik Revier
PAR Systems