Standing wave ultrasonic motor oriented toward miniature underwater vehicles

Abstract

In recent years, with the deepening ocean exploration, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are in great demand for ocean data collection, marine rescue, underwater communications, environmental monitoring, etc. The miniaturization and clustering of underwater vehicle have become the focus of current research. In order to solve hydraulic and insulation problems of traditional electromagnetic motors, this paper explored the possibility of piezoelectric actuation applied to underwater vehicle and put forward a new type of standing wave ultrasonic motor which was more suitable for miniature underwater vehicle. A disc-type rotary standing wave low driving voltage ultrasonic motor with convex spokes beam was presented. The ultrasonic motor's work mode was first radial mode. Convex spokes beams were aligned to the tangential direction of the contacting surface of the rotor, which were used to transform radial vibrations of the disc into rotational vibrations of the contacting ring and amplify the axial displacement. The vibration mode of stator was determined by COMSOL finite element method, and verified by Doppler laser vibrator.