Application Stories

Automating Router Bit Weld Testing with Force Control

Iris Dynamics — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 20:51:51 GMT

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Application Story

Students involved in the Senior Industrial Design Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte worked on an automation project for an industrial manufacturer to improve its manual component quality-control process. The student group had nine months to design, test, and optimize an automated system for testing router bit weldments. The goal was to produce a consistent and efficient system that could deliver repeatable and accurate impact-testing results while minimizing downtime.

Punch Press Automation: A Simple Electric Motor Retrofit for Safer and Repeatable, Production

Iris Dynamics — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 22:52:52 GMT

ACS Composite Systems Application Story

ACS Composite Systems is a Canadian manufacturer of ACM panels, flashing products, and thermal clips. Its raw materials are shipped to its local manufacturing facility, where the company's team of experts and journeypersons fabricates the products in-house. More than 720,000 thermal clips are cut and bent at the facility each year.

Replacing Pneumatics in High-Speed Veneer Handling and Stacking for LVL Manufacturing

Iris Dynamics — Fri, 08 May 2026 21:34:03 GMT

Applied Motion Systems Application Story

In high-performance manufacturing environments, motion systems need to deliver speed and precision without compromising reliability. Applied Motion Systems (AMS), a system integrator and machine builder specializing in motion control and automation solutions, works closely with manufacturers to retrofit and optimize production lines burdened with inefficiencies and downtime.

Precision Actuation for Lithium-Ion Battery Discharge Testing

Iris Dynamics — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:42:58 GMT

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Application Story

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are studying new methods for safely discharging lithium-ion batteries as part of ongoing work in battery safety, testing, and processing. The team is developing an experimental platform to investigate battery discharge behaviour under tightly controlled mechanical conditions. This research focuses on using mechanical perforation as an alternative to conventional battery discharge methods, with a goal of developing a faster, safer, discharge method. To support this work, the team requires a high-performance linear actuation system capable of delivering precise, repeatable motion inside a controlled test environment.

ORCA™ Motor Powered See-N-Till Agricultural Robotic System for Smart Weed Control

Iris Dynamics — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:38:06 GMT

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Application Story

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln developed an agricultural robotic system to eliminate harmful weeds that interfere with crop growth, designed to support sustainable farming practices. The system features a smart rotary tiller mechanism that detects weeds in real time and mechanically extracts them without damaging the surrounding soil.

Fatigue Testing Pediatric Prosthetic with Force Feedback, Backdrivable, Highly Repeatable ORCA™ Motors

Iris Dynamics — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:09:45 GMT

LIMBS International Application Story

LIMBS International, a nonprofit dedicated to helping amputees regain their mobility, together with a United States Naval Academy Capstone Engineering Team, worked on a project with the vision of helping amputee children in developing countries walk again. The project involved designing and testing a low-cost pediatric prosthetic foot made of resin and carbon fiber. To validate the prototype and certify it under ISO 10328 standards, the project underwent fatigue testing using ORCA™ Motors to recreate the heel-to-toe rolling motion of a child walking. The actuators operated over 1.5 million load cycles with variable forces reaching 450 newtons (N), applying controlled, repeatable forces to the heel and toe in sequence.

Unlocking Passive Dynamics: Batoid-Inspired Propulsion with ORCA™ Motors

Iris Dynamics — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:09:00 GMT

University of Washington Application Story

In pursuit of understanding how nature’s most adept swimmers propel themselves in the water, researchers at the University of Washington are studying batoid-informed undulatory propulsion, the study of how propulsive systems mimic the traveling wave fin motions of rays and skates. The team is investigating how these undulatory motions allow batoids to glide with elegance and efficiency, across a wide range of body sizes and environments.

ORCA™ Linear Actuator Enabled Active Throttle Control Brings Tactile Realism to Fly-By-Wire System

Iris Dynamics — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 21:48:51 GMT

Flight Level Engineering Application Story

Have you ever wondered how flight test professionals truly understand the complex flight control laws of a modern aircraft? Flight Level Engineering (FLE) Navion Variable Stability System (VSS) In-Flight Simulator sets a new standard in aviation testing and training. This innovative platform allows students to directly experience how High-Order Flight Control Systems translate pilot inputs into flight. It’s more than just theory, a VSS can mimic everything from agile fighters to large transport aircraft, letting flight test engineers, and aspiring test pilots feel the subtle yet critical differences in control laws, handling, and flying qualities. This builds invaluable skill for evaluating and troubleshooting advanced aircraft.

Integrating a Haptic-Enabled Linear Motor in 3DoF Rehabilitation End-Effector Cobot

Iris Dynamics — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:50:17 GMT

Polytechnique Laboratory for Assistive and Rehabilitation Technologies (POLAR) Application Story

Led by Professor Anolfazl Mohebbi, POLAR, is a Montreal-based laboratory for assistive and rehabilitation technologies, where next-generation end-effector robots are being pioneered. Traditional rehabilitation methods pose a significant challenge to healthcare providers and often lack the frequency and intensity necessary for optimal therapeutic outcomes. Robotic-assisted haptic therapy has emerged as a promising alternative and addresses these limitations by delivering precise, repetitive, and customizable movements that enhance consistency and generate valuable treatment data. Most of the robotic systems available are designed to treat patients with spinal cord injuries, whereas this project focuses on advanced robotic solutions designed for neuromuscular rehabilitation through an end-effector robot.

Next Level Flight Simulation: Realistic Control Loading and Force Replication

Iris Dynamics — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:47:14 GMT

iSim Ltd's Hawker 800 Simulator Powered by ORCA™ Motors

iSim Ltd, a New Zealand-based manufacturer of next-generation flight simulators, specializes in designing and building custom Flight Training Devices for various aircraft and helicopter types. Their latest project tackled the challenge of designing a custom control loading system for a medium business jet simulator—specifically for the Hawker 800. To achieve this, Iris Dynamics’ ORCA^TM Series Smart Linear Motors were used to build a custom control loading/force feedback system on top of a six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) motion platform.