SBIR-STTR Award

For the past 20 years, UQM Technologies has developed wheel motors, integrated motor/controllers, direct drive, and geared drivetrains for advanced vehicles. For example, the company is currently producing direct drive wheel motors for wheelchairs (over 45,000 manufactured to date). This experience, combined with a new three-dimensional motor topology, technology advancements in magnetic materials, and improved power electronics will be used to meet the requirements of Air Force ground support equipment. In Phase I of this effort, UQM Technologies will design an in-hub brushless permanent magnet motor and integrated controller that will eliminate a conventional drivetrain and transmission. Trade studies will include diameter versus length, two-dimensional versus three-dimensional flux paths, and direct drive versus geared solutions. Requirements will include equivalent performance to ICE-driven vehicles, equivalent or improved safety features, and cost effectiveness. The Phase I will result in a clear feasibility assessment of electric hub drives

The implementation of hub motors in materials handling equipment such as bombloaders allows great benefits in terms of design flexibility and increased mobility. By moving the prime mover off of the main chassis of the vehicle large amounts of space is gained for robotic equipment for materials handling, cargo, munitions, or other special requirements. With the appropriate vehicle geometry, hub motors also allow the possibility of a zero turning radius or infinite variability through omni-directional wheels. Adding to these benefits, gearing and drive shafting can be essentially eliminated. Expensive and complex parts such as transmissions and differentials are not needed in a hub motor driven vehicle. Hub motors are also applicable to both hybrid and pure electric vehicles that have better overall vehicle efficiency than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Hub motors can also have other cost and logistic advantages in terms of interchangeability between many different pieces of equipment. UQM has been in the business of producing high torque and high power density PM brushless motors for over 20 years. UQM plans to implement new motor design topologies to meet the high torque density demands of direct drive and geared hub motors

Keywords:
HUB MOTORS, WHEEL MOTORS, TORQUE DENSE, HIGH EFFICIENCY, MATERIAL HANDLING, ELECTRIC BOMBLOADERS