Wheel drive
Quiet direct drive for mobile robots
NSK has developed a direct drive for autonomous robots for applications that require low-noise operation with loads of up to 100 kilograms.
The development is based on the manufacturer's Megatorque motor, which is used here for the first time as a wheel drive and drives the wheel directly, i.e. without a gearbox. The control unit acts on two wheel units. Both are equipped with sensors that record the speed, acceleration and position. The signals from the sensors can be evaluated by an on-board PC.
The wheel unit is not only quiet. It also meets all the relevant safety requirements for operation in the vicinity of people. The safety features include safe stopping when an obstacle is detected and the option to simply reverse the drive manually in the event of irregularities. as









