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In recent years, there has been growing demand for flat electrical machines in order to minimize system size while also maintaining high efficiency. In general, axial flux machines (AFMs) are more suitable for flat form than radial flux machines (RFMs). AFMs usually employ a soft magnetic composite (SMC) for the stator core, and their efficiency can be improved by employing an SMC that has low iron loss. However, this reduces the average torque because there is generally a tradeoff relationship between iron loss and magnetic permeability in SMCs. This article, therefore, proposes an AFM with a coreless rotor structure in which the torque performance is not easily affected by the permeability of the SMC. This article aims to reveal the ideal SMC characteristics for high efficiency in AFMs. First, many virtual SMC materials with different iron loss and permeability are used for simulations of AFMs in order to investigate sensitivity to material properties. The simulations by virtual SMCs take into account the experimental increase in the iron loss. As a result, guidelines for developing SMCs are constructed based on the experimental results. Finally, prototype AFMs employing new SMCs developed by following the guidelines are shown, and it is found that they offer higher efficiency in all operating area than conventional AFMs. In particular, one prototype achieves an extremely high efficiency of over 96% at 6000 r/min, 0.8 Nm in experiments.

Here, we present a study on exoskeleton robot control based on inter-limb locomotor synergies using a robot control method developed to target hemiparesis. The robot control is based on inter-limb locomotor synergies and kinesiological information from the non-paretic leg and a walking aid cane to generate motion patterns for the assisted leg. The developed synergy-based system was tested against an autonomous robot control system in five patients with hemiparesis and varying locomotor abilities. Three of the participants were able to walk using the robot. Results from these participants showed an improved spatial symmetry ratio and more consistent step length with the synergy-based method compared with that for the autonomous method, while the increase in the range of motion for the assisted joints was larger with the autonomous system. The kinematic synergy distribution of the participants walking without the robot suggests a relationship between each participant's synergy distribution and his/her ability to control the robot: participants with two independent synergies accounting for approximately 80% of the data variability were able to walk with the robot. This observation was not consistently apparent with conventional clinical measures such as the Brunnstrom stages. This paper contributes to the field of robot-assisted locomotion therapy by introducing the concept of inter-limb synergies, demonstrating performance differences between synergy-based and autonomous robot control, and investigating the range of disability in which the system is usable.

In general, radial gap motors employing neodymium sintered permanent magnet (Nd sintered PM) are used to achieve high torque density in many applications. However, the motors are not suited to a flat, disk-like shape because the dead space, such as the coil ends, occupies most of the motor volume. Therefore, axial gap motors are frequently used for flat shape instead of radial gap motors. Nd sintered PM is a well-known high-performance magnet that has high residual magnetic flux density, but eddy current loss easily occurs in the magnet because of its high conductivity. In axial gap motors for industrial applications, it is difficult to take measures against eddy current loss of Nd sintered PM in terms of cost. Therefore, general axial gap motors employing Nd sintered PM often have unsatisfactory characteristics, such as low efficiency, even though the motor produces high torque. On the other hand, radial gap motors can take measures to suppress eddy current in PMs easily if radial gap motors employ interior permanent magnet structure. Accordingly, this paper discusses an axial gap motor employing neodymium bonded permanent magnet (Nd bonded PM) for flat shape. Compared with Nd sintered PM, Nd bonded PM has lower residual magnetic flux density, but also lower cost. In addition, Nd bonded PM has extremely low eddy current loss due to its low conductivity. It is found from three-dimensional finite element analysis and experimental results that the axial gap motor employing Nd bonded PM can achieve higher torque and higher efficiency compared with the radial gap motor employing Nd sintered PM with the same PM weight and a flat shape.