Articles & Whitepapers

Texas A&M Academic Story

Harnessing Force Controlled Linear Actuators Texas A&M University’s Breakthrough in Coastal Erosion Control Dr. Anand Puppala’s Research Group at The University of Texas A&M is developing a...

How To Select the Right Power Supply For Your Linear Actuator

IO SmartHub™: Digital & Analog Made Easy

The IO SmartHub simplifies controlling ORCA Series motors with bidirectional analog + digital signals & triggers. The IO SmartHub enables control of any ORCA Series motor using analog or digital...

ORCA™ Series | Easily Integrate with Matlab and Labview

ORCA Series motors are designed for straightforward integration into testing and measurement projects, supported by a serial Modbus RTU interface and an included USB adapter cable. Suitable for both...

Compliant Robotics, Force Feedback, & Backdrivability

Understanding Force Feedback in Linear Motion Systems

How fast is an ORCA™: Max Speed explained

In motion control applications, the maximum speeds of linear actuators are often a critical design parameter and often totally rule out some products as potential solutions. An actuator's maximum...

When to Replace ORCA™ Bushings

Understanding the Maintenance Cycle The maintenance cycle of the ORCA Series motors may be of great importance to a select few applications, particularly those in factory settings with considerable...

Introduction To Variable Mechanical Advantage

Introduction Mechanical advantage breathes life in a wide variety of machines and systems. The purpose of a machine is to convert one energy into another, this can be done with many mechanisms...

Smart Linear Motors: Explained

The electric motor transforms electrical energy into kinetic energy which has been one of the most impactful inventions for society over the last 200 years. They are used in an uncountable number of...

Forward and Inverse Kinematics: Explained

What is Forward Kinematics? Forward Kinematics is the calculation of the position and orientation of an end effector using the variables of the joints and linkages connecting to the...

Measuring Force with an ORCA™ Series Smart Linear Motor

Introduction Load cells are the most commonly used type of force sensor. There are many types of load cells, however, all of them work on the same basic premise of converting...

Rehabilitation and Force Feedback

Physiology Meets Machines: Force Feedback, Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Haptics offer information about touch, while force feedback is the ability of receptors in our organs to...

Feature Highlight: Kinematic Controller

ORCA™ Series Motors Kinematic Controller Highlights Introduction Derived from the Greek kinema (“movement”), Kinematics is a branch of physics...

Feedback and Feedforward Control: Explained

Feedback vs Feedforward: Advantages and Disadvantages Feedback Feedforward Introduction Feedback is a term that most people are familiar with. It’s incorporated into...

How-To Increase Linear Motor Efficiency With Increased Phase Counts

Download This How-To Guide [PDF] Understanding Electric Motor Efficiency and Phase Counts Introduction A little over 200 years ago, we first...

Magnetic Force Feedback: Explained

What is Magnetic Force Feedback Magnetic force feedback is the next evolution of force feedback control and is being developed by Iris Dynamics. The core technology being...

Silence In Robotic Actuators and Systems

The Quest for Silence in Robotic Systems The electrical hum and resonant vibrations of robotic systems can be extremely disruptive to users and applications, especially if it is a...

What is Force Feedback: Explained

To put it simply, force feedback is the simulation of real-world physical touch, while in a simulated environment such as virtual reality (VR), by way of motorized motion or...

VR Immersion for Training and Entertainment

The world of virtual reality (VR) has been touted as the next big thing in the computing space for decades. The promise of a true VR immersion environment has been made by many...