ElectroCraft Inc., which provides fractional horsepower motor and motion systems, announced that it has expanded its MobilePower product family with the MPW Wheel Drive for mobile robot applications.

The MPW Wheel Drive features a high torque-density brushless DC motor with a heavy-duty integrated planetary gearbox mounted inside the hub of a lightweight aluminum wheel with custom tread, said the Stratham, N.H.-based company. The MPW is designed to combine optimum performance with high efficiency, quiet operation, and long life, claimed ElectroCraft.

ElectroCraft MPW specifications

ElectroCraft said its MobilePower MPW-series wheel drives feature an integrated design that can increase performance and reliability in comparison with traditional motor/gearbox/wheel combinations.

• The MPW52 (150 mm wheel), provides a peak torque of 12.4Nm (110 lb.in) at 2.4 meters/second, while carrying up to 68 kg load (150 lb.) per wheel.
• The MPW86 (200 mm wheel), provides a robust peak torque of 35 Nm (310 lb.in) at 1.9 meters/second, while carrying up to 227 kg (500 lb.) per wheel.

In addition, ElectroCraft said the wheel drive assembly produces “industry-leading performance” with a light weight and small form factor.

“The result of the integrated design of the MPW featuring ElectroCraft’s high torque density motor technology is in the overall efficiency and performance of the robotic application,” stated Scott Rohlfs, director of product marketing at ElectroCraft. “Robotic OEMs can save space and reduce weight without sacrificing load capacity and speed.”

The MPW provides a complete motorized wheel-drive solution for mobile platform OEMs, eliminating the need for the OEM to design a system using disparate components from several different suppliers, said the company.

ElectroCraft added that the MPW is engineered for integrated efficiency. The motor, gearing, hub, wheel assembly, and optional accessories provide a single-source solution for efficient battery-powered automated guided vehicle (AGV) and mobile robot applications, it said.

Editor’s note: For more on motion-control systems, visit Motion Control Tips, a sibling site to The Robot Report.