Motor

Chinese drone and imaging multinational DJI has announced its entry into the ebike drive system market, along with the launch of a new ebike brand and the first electric mountain bike to sport Avinox power.

As some entities identify new sources to meet the demand for rare earth materials, others are looking to new tools. Materials Nexus has designed a new rare-earth-free permanent magnet help from its AI platform – at record pace.

Earlier this month, we featured a Whale Design propeller that looked to nature for improved efficiency. Switzerland's ABB Marine has also been inspired by "the dynamic motions of a whale's tail" for its multi-blade Dynafin propulsion concept.

One of the world's largest tier-one auto parts suppliers claims it's created the "perfect motor." The compact Mahle motor uses no rare earth magnets, transmits power without contact or wear, and can run at high power indefinitely without overheating.

This year marks 30 years since Yamaha Motor launched the "world's first electrically power-assisted bicycle." The company celebrated in style last month with a special-edition eMTB, and is now keeping the party going with its lightest drive unit.

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed the world’s first electric nanomotors made of DNA. The self-assembling structures can be activated by an electric charge to spin a ratcheting rotor arm.

Electric boats could soon be getting even quieter and more maneuverable, according to Yahama. The company's new Harmo steering and propulsion system is promised to deliver on both counts.

Researchers at Empa and EPFL have created one of the smallest motors ever made. It’s composed of just 16 atoms, and at that tiny size it seems to function right on the boundary between classical physics and the spooky quantum realm.

​Latvia's Gamechanger Audio has revealed the final desktop design of its upcoming Motor Synth, which debuted as a proof of concept at NAMM 2019 back in January. As its name suggests, motors are used to create its tones.​

At the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology expo in Hannover yesterday, Elaphe presented the latest generation of its monster in-wheel electric hub motors, which can now smash out as much as 1,500 Nm and more than 110 kW per wheel.

Mitsubishi Electric has begun mass-producing the first crankshaft-mounted integrated starter-generator system for 48V hybrid systems. This system will be used by Mercedes-Benz and is on display at Tokyo Motor Show 2017.

Dmitry Morozov has created some cool instruments over the years, including a machine that turned cable twists into eerie music and a synthesizer powered by his own blood. His latest project is a strange electromechanical organ that uses three different-sized DC motors to generate synth-like sounds.​