Electromagnetic Actuator System

Abstract

A novel electromagnetic actuator designed to operate at system resonance, used in the construction of a unique vehicle system, is presented herein. An exemplary embodiment of the vehicle system is based on an electromagnetic actuator coupled to a plurality of actuating members of a micro aerial vehicle. Attributes of this type of actuation offer several enhancements over traditional approaches. The unique use of an electromagnetic actuator lends itself to a near unlimited number of coil cross-sectional designs that can be optimized to meet performance requirements while maintaining minimal costs of fabrication.

1 . An actuator comprising:
 an actuator frame;   a stator connected to the actuator frame;   a rotor disposed within the stator, wherein the rotor comprises a first permanent magnet; and   a second permanent magnet in physical contact with the stator;   wherein the first permanent magnet is in polarity alignment with the second permanent magnet.   
     
     
         2 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the stator comprises at least one winding. 
     
     
         4 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the stator comprises a plurality of electric leads. 
     
     
         5 . The actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising a third permanent magnet, wherein the third permanent magnet is in physical contact with the stator, wherein the third permanent magnet is in polarity alignment with the second permanent magnet. 
     
     
         6 . The actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is configured to have rotational oscillation. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one actuating coupler, wherein the at least one actuating coupler comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to couple to an actuating member, and the proximal end is configured to couple to the rotor. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame; and   an actuator, wherein the actuator comprises:
 an actuator frame; 
 a stator connected to the actuator frame; 
 a rotor disposed within the stator, wherein the rotor comprises a first permanent magnet; and 
 a second permanent magnet in physical contact with the stator; 
 wherein the first permanent magnet is in polarity alignment with the second permanent magnet. 
   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one actuating coupler, wherein the at least one actuating coupler comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to couple to an actuating member, and the proximal end is configured to couple to the rotor. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one actuating coupler is configured to enable at least one degree of freedom motion in the at least one actuating member. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the stator comprises at least one winding. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the stator comprises a plurality of electric leads. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , further comprising a third permanent magnet, wherein the third permanent magnet is in physical contact with the stator, wherein the third permanent magnet is in polarity alignment with the second permanent magnet. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the rotor is configured to have rotational oscillation. 
     
     
         16 . An actuator comprising:
 an actuator frame;   a stator connected to the actuator frame, wherein the stator comprises a plurality of electric leads;   a rotor disposed within the stator, wherein the rotor comprises a first permanent magnet; and   a second permanent magnet in physical contact with the stator;   wherein the first permanent magnet is in polarity alignment with the second permanent magnet.   
     
     
         17 . The actuator of  claim 16 , further comprising a generator, wherein the generator is configured to apply a potential different across the plurality of electric leads. 
     
     
         18 . The actuator of  claim 16 , further comprising a third permanent magnet, wherein the third permanent magnet is in physical contact with the stator, wherein the third permanent magnet is in polarity alignment with the second permanent magnet. 
     
     
         19 . The actuator of  claim 18 , further comprising a fourth permanent magnet, wherein the rotor comprises the fourth permanent magnet, wherein the fourth permanent magnet is in polarity alignment with the first permanent magnet. 
     
     
         20 . The actuator of  claim 16 , wherein the rotor is configured to have rotational oscillation.