Planar Miniaturized Rotational Drive - PlateDrive

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Lambert Alff; Professor Dr.-Ing. Helmut F. Schlaak (†)
• Subject Area: Electrical Energy Systems, Power Management, Power Electronics, Electrical Machines and Drives ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290067201

The general aim of this project is the realization of a miniaturized rotating actuator based on a micro-structured frictional layer of carbon fibers and structurally integrated piezoelectric actuated bending elements.A passive metal sheet will be turned into an active stator through integration of structured bending elements and piezoelectric layers to achieve oscillation of the bending elements.The micro-structured frictional layer of carbon fibers between the stator and rotor generates the force and mechanical energy transfer for the rotation of the rotor.A close collaboration between the Institute EMK (Prof. Schlaak) and FG Dünne Schichten (Prof. Alff), both at Technische Universität Darmstadt, is planned in the project. The respective research fields of both collaborators are defined as follows: Research field of the position by Prof. Schlaak, Institut EMK: Production and investigation of the frictional layer. The goals of Prof. Schlaak`s group comprise the preparation of bending elements, for the growth of piezoelectric layers at Prof. Alff`s group, as well as the research for the technical feasibility and reproducible production of the friction layer and its metrological characterization.Research field of Prof. Alff, FG Dünne Schichten: Growth and characterization of the structurally integrated piezoelectric layers. Prof. Allf`s goals include the realization of active bending elements (piezoelectric layers grown on metallic substrates provided by Prof. Schlaak) and the conception of a simulation model for their bending behavior to characterize and improve the layered structures. The main goal remains the production of functionally integrated active bending elements on the stator, with improved electrical and mechanical properties.In addition to the dependencies of both collaborating partners` goals, a close cooperation for the definition of specifications at the beginning of the project and for subsequent execution of the intermediate goals is also planned. Furthermore, the integration of all components into a demonstrator device will also be done by both collaborators as well as its characterization for which a measurement device is planned.In the investigations for the production of the PlateDrive demonstrator it will be of great importance that the three-layer arrangement is mechanically as simple as possible. For this reason, the first demonstrator of the actuator will be mainly based on large-scale manufacturing methods. The miniaturized rotational actuator PlateDrive is planned to be manufactured in a few steps due to the structural integration. Therefore, this actuator will be highly cost-effective for large-scale production in the future.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants