Components: Actuators and Gear Boxes

This lecture covers the sizing and selection of motors and actuators, including voice coil and piezoactuators. It also discusses gear boxes, harmonic drives, sensors like optical encoders and potentiometers, as well as cables and gauges. The presentation delves into the working principles and classification of electromagnetic actuators, focusing on brushless DC motors and their components. Various motor diagrams are analyzed, detailing the speed and torque constants, efficiency curves, and thermal effects. The lecture further explores the selection and operation of motors, emphasizing factors like torque, speed, and efficiency. Additionally, it examines the design and function of accessories such as gear boxes, encoders, and sensors, providing insights into their applications in space mechanisms.