SILA: lightweight electric actuation without mechanical gearing for aircraft utility applications

SILA：用于飞机公用事业应用的轻量级电动驱动，无需机械传动装置

• 批准号: 96925
• 金额: $ 30.2万
• 依托单位: WAVEDRIVES LTD
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: BEIS-Funded Programmes
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=96925
• 关键词: SILA; lightweight; electric; actuation; without

WaveDrives' ultra-efficient electric actuation technology without mechanical gearing has potential to accelerate aircraft electrification.Actuators convert energy into force for moving or controlling things. They exist in all shapes and sizes within just about every mechanical device. Automation and pervasiveness of modern technology has increased this already huge global market while also creating demand for more sustainable, lightweight and powerful actuators. However, it is clear that existing mature, power-hungry actuation technologies are not able to evolve to meet these new challenges due to fundamental design limitations.In response to market need, WaveDrives has developed a radical electric actuation technology, motivated by two decades' experience developing commercial robots and powered prosthetics and inspired by the structure and performance of human muscle.WaveDrives' _**S**arcomere **I**nspired **L**inear **A**ctuator_(**_SILA)_**, is more controllable and efficient than comparable technologies because its contactless transmission has no energy wasted due to friction. **_SILA_** is scalable, non-jamming and offers reduced weight and power consumption, increased reliability and lower through-life cost; all highly attractive characteristics in the Aerospace sector.Not only does **_SILA_** offer step-change performance but it makes highly cost-effective/sustainable resource use. Requiring less power to operate, **_SILA_** does not use expensive and contaminating lubricants/coolants; requires almost no maintenance and is cheaply re-manufactured, as there is no transmission wear.Early indications are positive, however **_SILA_** is an advanced prototype developed to TRL5/6 for robotic-prosthetic applications and must be scaled to provide greater force and longer stroke, ruggedised and validated for performance in harsh aerospace environments before aerospace benefits can be realised.In this project,WaveDrives will develop a larger, more powerful and robust _**SILA**_ module in line with an Airbus provided utility actuator specification and will collaborate with experts from the University of Bristol(UoB) to evaluate and test the new actuator's performance. Target performance and environmental resilience will be set in consultation with UoB and Airbus end-user.This project provides a valuable first step towards proving this UK-patented, key enabling technology for wider use in Aerospace. Success would lead to evaluation for more safety-critical applications, such as flight controls. With potential to enhance UK competitiveness in both civil and emerging urban/regional aircraft markets, the project contributes to the Air Technology Institute's strategic goals. By accelerating **_SILA_** industrialisation, it also supports UK industry clean growth through diverse products adopting **_SILA_** technology e.g. to benefit suppliers and users of innovative powered prosthetics, more environmentally sustainable transport and more energy efficient logistics.

WaveDrives的超高效电动驱动技术无需机械传动装置，具有加速飞机电气化的潜力。驱动器将能量转化为力，用于移动或控制物体。它们以各种形状和大小存在于几乎每一个机械设备中。现代技术的自动化和普及增加了这个本已巨大的全球市场，同时也创造了对更可持续、更轻便和更强大的执行器的需求。然而，很明显，由于基本的设计限制，现有的成熟的、耗电的驱动技术不能够发展以满足这些新的挑战。为了响应市场需求，WaveDrives开发了一种激进的电动驱动技术，WaveDrives拥有20年开发商用机器人和动力假肢的经验，并受到人类肌肉结构和性能的启发。WaveDrives的_**S**arcomere **I** nspired **L** linear **A**ctuator_（**_SILA）_** 比同类技术更可控、更高效，因为它的非接触式传输没有因摩擦而浪费的能量。**_SILA_** 具有可扩展性、无干扰性、重量轻、功耗低、可靠性高、寿命期内成本低等特点，在航空航天领域极具吸引力。**_SILA_** 不仅具有阶跃变化性能，还能实现高成本效益/可持续的资源利用。**_SILA_** 不使用昂贵和污染的润滑剂/冷却剂，运行所需功率更少;由于没有传动装置磨损，因此几乎不需要维护，并且可以廉价地重新制造。早期迹象是积极的，但是 **_SILA_** 是一种先进的原型，开发到TRL 5/6，用于机器人假肢应用，必须按比例缩放以提供更大的力和更长的行程，在实现航空航天效益之前，WaveDrives将在恶劣的航空航天环境中进行加固和性能验证。在这个项目中，WaveDrives将开发一个更大，更强大、更坚固的_**SILA**_模块，符合空客提供的实用执行器规范，并将与布里斯托大学（UoB）的专家合作以评估和测试新致动器的性能。目标性能和环境适应能力将与UoB和空中客车最终用户协商确定。该项目为证明这项英国专利的关键技术在航空航天领域的广泛应用迈出了宝贵的第一步。成功将导致对更多安全关键应用的评估，例如飞行控制。该项目有可能提高英国在民用和新兴城市/区域飞机市场的竞争力，有助于实现航空技术研究所的战略目标。通过加速 **_SILA_** 工业化，它还通过采用 **_SILA_** 技术的各种产品支持英国工业的清洁增长，例如使创新动力假肢的供应商和用户受益，更环保的可持续运输和更节能的物流。