Electric motor/controller design tradeoffs for noise, weight, and efficiency

Abstract

Unlike hydraulics, an electric motor/controller system presents significant opportunities to improve noise, weight, and efficiency. But, these opportunities can best be recognized by a single source who not only understands the technology but has the ability to implement them in the development and manufacture of the product. An analysis is presented which explains the various design considerations of noise, weight and efficiency of electric motors and controllers for submersible autonomous underwater vehicles. In concert with the design considerations, their interrelationships are discussed as to how they affect each other in the overall optimization of the system. In conclusion, a matrix is created which shows how the resultant system parameters of noise, weight, and efficiency may be "traded off" to tailor the best overall system for the application.