n TECHNOLOGY March 2024 www.drivesncontrols.com 20 THE US MOTOR-MAKER In nitum has unveiled the next generation of its Aircore EC high-eciency motor system with the claim that it is 20% lighter than the previous version, and is easier to install and service. The motor, which has a built-in variablespeed drive, delivers system eciencies upwards of 93%, as well as “class-leading” power and torque densities in a smallfootprint package. The motor is available in four frame sizes from 3-15hp (2.2–11.2kW) in 415, 460 and 575V versions, initially for the US and Canadian markets. In nitum is planning a heavy-duty version for pump and demanding fan applications. The Aircore EC motors replace the heavy, copper-wound iron stator in traditional motors with a lightweight PCB (printed circuit board) stator, claimed to be 10 times more reliable. Compared to conventional motors, they are 10-65% more ecient, 50% smaller and lighter, and use 66% less copper. The motors’ modular design allows the housing, rotors and stators to be re-used multiple times. The system is covered by 43 granted patents and 48 pending patents. Ben Schuler, In nitum’s founder and CEO, says that the new generation “pushes the boundaries of eciency and sustainability even further. The combination of lighter materials, higher eciency and power density, and design for serviceability and reusability give our new Aircore EC motor the advantage to power the world’s most energy-intensive applications with less energy, emissions and waste.” Other characteristics of the new system include: n Custom nameplating This allows users to match the motor to an application’s power and speed speci cations to reduce energy, electrical and wiring costs. n Flexible mounting The compact size enables a variety of horizontal, vertical and peripheral mounting options. n Controls Optional IoT capabilities and In nitum’s I-con motor control software provide continuous monitoring and reporting of carbon emissions, energy consumption, heat and vibration for energy management, performance optimisation, and predictive maintenance. n Communications Support for protocols including Modbus RTU and IP, BACnet MS/TP, analogue and others. n Serviceability Alerts identify problems for faster resolution. A removable panel simpli es access to terminals, connectors and programming ports. “In nitum’s Aircore EC product is unique in the industry and opens design possibilities for a wide variety of use cases,”comments Blake Grin, an analyst with Interact Analysis. “In addition to achieving IE5 eciency, In nitum’s custom nameplating capability is an extremely powerful o¢ering as it can drastically lower overall capital investment associated with large motor-driven systems. This bene t cannot be understated when considering installations of motors can reach the hundreds or thousands in projects within sectors like data centres and commercial buildings.” https://goin nitum.com p A free-to-use tool, developed as part of the three-year Robotics4EU collaborative project, allows robot makers, users, researchers and policymakers to assess non-technological aspects of robotics. The Responsible Robotics Compass (RoboCompass) tool provides an overview of aspects that inuence a robot’s acceptance, including socio-economic, environmental and legal factors. The tool allows users to customise their priorities, aligning them with customer requirements and use cases, and to address risk and mitigation questions. https://robocompass.aiod.eu pPepperl+Fuchs has announced an intrinsically safe smartphone that is approved for Zone 1/21 and DIV 1 and supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6 and eSIMs. It says that the Smart-Ex 03 is the only intrinsically safe smartphone that can be unlocked by a ngerprint. The 6-inch Android device supports remote support, video conferencing, or low-latency digital radio communication using Push-to-Talk over cellular (PTToC). Its camera can be used for scanning, documenting or video conferencing. www.pepperl-fuchs.com pPICMG, the consortium developing open embedded computing speci cations, has rati ed the rst speci cation for modular, interoperable embedded box PCs. It de nes a exible mechanical architecture with a 1.4inch horizontal pitch form factor. It supports mounting on walls, DIN rails or side-by-side in 19” sub-racks. The ModBlox7 architecture avoids costly components such as backplanes and shelf controllers, allow systems to be price-competitive, even at low volumes. The CPU, power supply and I/Os can be con gured as redundant or non-redundant. Up to 12 units can be interconnected. www.picmg.org/modblox7 pAvnu Alliance – the group promoting standards-based networking for time-sensitive applications – has demonstrated how TSN (time-sensitive networking) can enhance accuracy and reliability in time-critical applications. Avnu members tested TSN capabilities of time synchronisation (802.1AS) and tra¢c shaping (802.1Qbv) over Wi-Fi. During the tests, a remote-controlled robot performed ne manipulation tasks. Without 802.1Qbv, the task was severely impacted by competing tra¢c. When TSN was enabled, the robot arm was able to complete the tasks, even when competing tra¢c was present. https://avnu.org pVikingCloud, a predict-to-prevent cybersecurity and compliance specialist, has announced a generative AI-powered cybersecurity chatbot designed to help companies to nd vulnerabilities before they become disruptive threats. The patentpending Thor AI (Threat Hunting and Orchestrated Response) tool is designed to reduce information overload and nd potential online threats that human analysts might miss, and that legacy cybersecurity tools might not stop. www.vikingcloud.com TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS Next-gen air-core motor raises efficiency and cuts weights In nitum says that the latest generation of its Aircore motors with onboard drive electronics are 20% lighter than before
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