Electric drives could revolutionize the handling of heavy loads in places like hospitals and hardware stores. Matthias Nienhaus and his team at Saarland University have developed wheels with integrated electric motors that can be controlled using pressure-sensitive handles. Nienhaus says loads of up to 500 kilograms can be moved and maneuvered with just two fingers using their new method.
The technology is based on two main components: measuring operating data during the operation of each individual wheel motor and programming algorithms to analyze the data. By using the electric motors inside the wheels themselves as a sensor, the researchers gather the data they need for efficient and cost-effective electric drive systems.
To make their electric drives practical for specific applications, the Saarland team developed a pressure-sensitive handle that can be easily mounted on any vehicle. It utilizes a capacitive system that measures multidimensional forces in all directions using pressure changes, which results in a change in electrical capacitance. As a result, the system can recognize the direction in which the load is being moved and support it by controlling the individual wheel motors.
The Saarland team has developed a prototype system that is designed to handle large loads safely and effectively. Electric drives that utilize wheels with integrated electric motors and pressure-sensitive handles could be the future of heavy load transportation. Nienhaus and his team hope to find interested parties for their marketable electric drives, and will showcase their technology at the upcoming Hanover Fair in mid-April.
