Designing small tracked Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) for minesweeping is a unique engineering challenge. These robots must be compact enough to navigate rugged terrain, powerful enough to handle heavy-duty detection equipment, and reliable under harsh environmental conditions.
Why Frameless Motors for Minesweeping UGVs?
Frameless motors are ideal for defense and security robotics because they allow direct integration into the mechanical structure, reducing weight and allowing design engineers to reduce the footprint of their UGVs. For tracked UGVs, frameless motors can be embedded into drive systems or actuator assemblies, enabling a low-profile design that minimizes exposure to hazards while maximizing maneuverability.
Three Key Design Considerations:
1. Torque Density vs. Size
Tracked UGVs require high torque to overcome uneven terrain and obstacles while maintaining precise control for minesweeping operations. Frameless motors follow the D²L rule—torque increases with the square of diameter and linearly with length.
For compact UGVs, increasing diameter is often preferable to length, as longer motors complicate integration into low-profile chassis designs. However, larger diameters can limit space for sensors and electronics, creating a design footprint tradeoff.
Design Tip: Choose frameless motors optimized to deliver the required torque with short axial lengths. Compact designs simplify integration without sacrificing performance.
2. Velocity vs. Torque
Minesweeping UGVs need controlled speed for scanning accuracy, but they also require bursts of torque for climbing inclines or towing auxiliary equipment. Harmonic or planetary gearing can help balance these needs, but high gear ratios reduce speed.
Frameless motors capable of maintaining torque at higher RPMs are essential to avoid oversizing the motor and adding unnecessary weight. This is especially true when considering that these systems are usually operating at lower DC bus levels, typically 48 VDC.
Design Tip: Select motors with advanced winding technology that sustain torque across a broad speed range, reducing the need for oversized designs.
3. Temperature vs. Reliability
Operating in hot climates or under continuous load can push motor winding temperatures beyond safe limits. Excess heat degrades lubricants, sensors and electronics—critical components for minesweeping reliability. Motors optimized for lower thermal rise and equipped with integrated thermal sensors help prevent failures.
Design Tip: Look for frameless motors engineered to maintain performance across a wide range of winding temperatures, ensuring long-term durability of gearboxes and electronics.
Environmental and Safety Factors
Minesweeping robots often face dust, moisture, shock and vibration. Frameless motors allow the designer to provide the level of sealing integration to meet mission demands.
Recommended Motor Features for Minesweeping UGVs
- Compact axial length with high torque density
- Wide speed range with minimal torque drop-off
- Integrated thermal and Hall sensors for feedback
- Materials and design suitable for harsh environments
- Compatibility with off-the-shelf gearing systems
The Right Choice for Your UGV
Frameless motors are not just a component—they define the agility, endurance and safety of minesweeping UGVs. By prioritizing torque density, thermal management and environmental resilience, designers can create robots that perform reliably in the most demanding conditions without compromising size or efficiency.
Kollmorgen’s TBM, TBM2G and KBM series exemplify how high torque meets compact, integration-friendly form factors. If you're designing tracked UGVs for minesweeping or other ground applications, learn how we can provide the mission-critical performance you demand. Our motion experts are here to help find the right balance of power, size, weight and reliability.
