Research and design development of space actuator using spherical ultrasonic motor

• Project/Area Number: 16K06060
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Design engineering/Machine functional elements/Tribology
• Research Institution: Kisarazu National College of Technology
• Principal Investigator: OOHASHI TARO 木更津工業高等専門学校, 電子制御工学科, 准教授 (20259823)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 西澤 宇一 東京農工大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 産学官連携研究員 (80553221)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,810,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,110,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
• Keywords: 設計工学 / アクチュエータ / 宇宙空間 / 圧電素子 / トライボロジー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to develop "Space Spherical Ultrasonic Motor" which substitutes space actuator and thruster used in space with spherical ultrasonic motor. In order to investigate the characteristics of the developed spherical ultrasonic motor for space, after investigating the motor torque, rotational speed, the relationship between torque and rotational speed, durability and working life in the atmosphere, the same experiment in vacuum experiment was conducted. In addition, in the atmosphere, the high temperature environment and the low temperature environment are constructed, and various characteristics are investigated. We conducted experiments on a temperature cycle environment assuming that both temperature environments are repeated, and confirmed that the developed spherical ultrasonic motor for space had sufficient functions.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ISS国際宇宙ステーション、小惑星探査機「はやぶさ」、月面探査機、宇宙移住計画に伴う宇宙エレベータ構想など、宇宙機の開発が検討されている。これらの宇宙機はロケットで宇宙空間に運ばれたのち、目的に応じて宇宙用アクチュエータが利用されている。主なものはステッピングモータやＤＣモータであり、超音波駆動をするモータの使用例はない。超音波モータは構造が簡単であるが低トルクという欠点があるが、宇宙空間では小さなトルクで十分実用化に耐えうる環境のため、好都合なモータである。実用化がすれば、画期的な研究成果となり、超音波モータは従来の宇宙用アクチュエータにとって変わることが十分に期待されるモータである。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Evaluation of resistance against vibration and shock resistance on spherical ultrasonic motor (2018)
  • Author(s): Uichi Nishizawa, Taro Oohashi, Shigeki Toyama
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Modeling and Optimization Volume: 8（2） Pages: 68-73
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Evaluation of spherical ultrasonic motor for space in low temperature condition (2017)
  • Author(s): Uichi Nishizawa, Taro Oohashi, Shigeki Toyama
  • Journal Title: Journal of Vibroengineering Volume: 19（７） Pages: 5017-5181
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Evaluation of spherical ultrasonic motor for space in high temperature condition (2016)
  • Author(s): Uichi Nishizawa, Taro Oohashi, Shigeki Toyama
  • Journal Title: Journal of Vibroengineering Volume: 18(2) Pages: 916-926
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Development of spherical ultrasonic motor for space. Evaluations of durability under low temperature environment and temperature cycle (2016)
  • Author(s): Taro Oohashi, Uichi Nishizawa, Shigeki Toyama
  • Organizer: The 22nd VIBROENGINEERING Conference
  • Place of Presentation: ロシア・モスクワ
  • Year and Date: 2016-10-04
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Spherical ultrasonic motor for space (2016)
  • Author(s): Uichi Nishizawa, Shigeki Toyama, Taro Oohashi
  • Organizer: XII. International Conference on the Theory of Machines and Mechanisms 2016
  • Place of Presentation: チェコ・リベレツ
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-06
  • Int'l Joint Research