Big Results From a Smaller Gearbox

About this technology

Overview

NASA scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center are busy developing the technologies to build the James Webb Space Telescope. Many of the new technologies are available for commercial licensing and development. For example, the NASA Planetary Gear System technology developed to give precise nanometer positioning capabilities for the James Webb Space Telescope is now being employed by Turnkey Design Systems, Inc., of Blue Island, Illinois, to improve electric motors. This revolutionary piece of technology allows more efficient operation of the motors, and is more cost effective than traditional gearbox designs. The gear-bearing technology was a NASA industrial breakthrough that improved design by adding strength and improving performance while managing to reduce size, parts-count, and cost. TDS is currently marketing three different prototype sets, each with the same diametral and axial envelopes, but with different ratios. The company sees a wide spectrum of uses for these sets, but intends to market them to the aerospace and automotive industries. The planetary sets could be used in the aerospace industry to open and close bay doors of aircraft and to extend and retract aircraft wing flaps. In the automotive industry, this technology could be used to open and close sliding doors on vans, to open and close lift gates on SUVs, and to move powered seats back and forth.