Apparatus and associated methods relate to an electromagnetic steered orientation device. In an illustrative example, an exemplary electromagnetic payload orientation device (EPOD) includes a rotor, a stator, and a payload mounted on the rotor. The rotor, for example, may be coupled to a magnetic source. For example, the stator may include electromagnetic coils operable by a controller circuit to induce relative rotation between the rotor and the stator. In some examples, the rotor is a sphere provided with one or more guide tracks on an outer surface, and the stator is a concentric shell surrounding the sphere provided with at least one follower corresponding to the guide tracks such that a relative rotation between the rotor and stator is constrained by the guide track to follow a predetermined motion profile. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a substantially smooth and low voltage mechanism to orient the payload.

A motor including a first part having an outer peripheral portion and a second part having an inner peripheral portion facing the outer peripheral portion, the first part and the second part being configured to rotate relative to each other, includes a plurality of coils on one of the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion, and a plurality of magnets on the other of the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion at positions facing the plurality of coils, wherein the plurality of magnets includes a first magnet portion configured to apply a thrust to at least one of the plurality of coils in a rotation direction and a second magnet portion configured to apply a thrust to at least one of the plurality of coils in a direction intersecting the rotation direction, when an electric current is applied to the plurality of coils.

A motor including a first part having an outer peripheral portion and a second part having an inner peripheral portion facing the outer peripheral portion, the first part and the second part being configured to rotate relative to each other, includes a plurality of coils on one of the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion, and a plurality of magnets on the other of the outer peripheral portion and the inner peripheral portion at positions facing the plurality of coils, wherein the plurality of magnets includes a first magnet portion configured to apply a thrust to at least one of the plurality of coils in a rotation direction and a second magnet portion configured to apply a thrust to at least one of the plurality of coils in a direction intersecting the rotation direction, when an electric current is applied to the plurality of coils.

An actuator capable of achieving high output with a smaller number of parts is proposed. An actuator including a stator that has teeth arranged on an outer peripheral surface, a rotor that rotates around a central axis of the stator while teeth arranged on an outer peripheral surface mesh with the teeth arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the stator, and a second gear that rotates while meshing with a first gear coupled to the rotor coaxially with a central axis of the rotor and is coupled to an output shaft, in which the stator has an electromagnet, the rotor has a magnet, and a magnetic pole of the electromagnet corresponding to a position of the rotor moves along a circumferential direction of the stator.

An actuator capable of achieving high output with a smaller number of parts is proposed. An actuator including a stator that has teeth arranged on an outer peripheral surface, a rotor that rotates around a central axis of the stator while teeth arranged on an outer peripheral surface mesh with the teeth arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the stator, and a second gear that rotates while meshing with a first gear coupled to the rotor coaxially with a central axis of the rotor and is coupled to an output shaft, in which the stator has an electromagnet, the rotor has a magnet, and a magnetic pole of the electromagnet corresponding to a position of the rotor moves along a circumferential direction of the stator.

A hybrid spherical motor includes a first gear box, a second gear box, a yoke arm, a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, a spherical stator, and a spherical armature. The split armature, in response to the spherical stator being energized, rotates about a first rotational axis, thereby causing the first gear box input connection and the second gear box input connection to rotate about the first rotational axis, and the yoke arm rotates about the first rotational axis in response to the first gear box input connection and the second gear box input connection being rotated about the first rotational axis, whereby the BLDC motor rotates about the first rotational axis.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to an electromagnetic steered orientation device. In an illustrative example, an exemplary electromagnetic payload orientation device (EPOD) includes a rotor, a stator, and a payload mounted on the rotor. The rotor, for example, may be coupled to a magnetic source. For example, the stator may include electromagnetic coils operable by a controller circuit to induce relative rotation between the rotor and the stator. In some examples, the rotor is a sphere provided with one or more guide tracks on an outer surface, and the stator is a concentric shell surrounding the sphere provided with at least one follower corresponding to the guide tracks such that a relative rotation between the rotor and stator is constrained by the guide track to follow a predetermined motion profile. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a substantially smooth and low voltage mechanism to orient the payload.

An electric motor is provided, comprising: a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, and a circuit configured to electromagnetically activate at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. The electromagnetic activation causes a change in a gap between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, the change in the gap resulting in rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

An electric motor is provided, comprising: a first magnetic component, a second magnetic component, and a circuit configured to electromagnetically activate at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component. The electromagnetic activation causes a change in a gap between the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, the change in the gap resulting in rotation of at least one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component.

An electric motor has a stator mechanically coupled to the rotor by a nutating traction interface, such that during nutation of the rotor with respect to the stator a tilt axis of the rotor progresses about the axis of rotation of the output shaft. The rotor and a surface of the stator bound a dynamic gap across which a magnetic field is produced by electrical activation of the motor to generate a force between the rotor and the stator. The traction interface and the gap are arranged such that, in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the output shaft, the traction interface is angled with respect to the stator surface bounding the gap. The rotor is connected to the output shaft by a tiltable connection such as a gimbal.