Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.

Marcel Thomas

Martin L Culpepper

Robert Matthew Panas

Christopher M DiBiasio

Magnetic transmissions and related methods are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic screw comprising an elongate body, a nut selectively magnetically coupled to the magnetic screw, and a potential energy storage system and/or a resistive force component. The nut is configured to be displaced relative to the elongate body in a first direction in response to manipulation of a magnetic field between the magnetic screw and the nut when the nut is magnetically coupled to the magnetic screw. In embodiments including a potential energy storage system, the potential energy storage system may store potential energy when the nut is displaced in the first direction. In embodiments including a resistive force component, the resistive force component may resist motion of the nut in the first direction by applying a resistive force to the nut at least partially in an opposing second direction.

Magnetic transmission

A gyroscope includes a first mass, a second mass, and a drive structure configured to drive each of the first mass and the second mass in a drive mode. The drive structure includes a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion being configured to drive the first mass in a direction along a drive axis and the second portion being configured to drive the second mass in a direction opposite to the first mass along the drive axis. The gyroscope further includes a sense structure configured to sense motion of each of the first mass and the second mass in a sense mode along a direction substantially perpendicular to the drive axis, and a plurality of flexures configured to couple the first portion to the second portion and further configured to decouple the drive mode and the sense mode.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Marcel Thomas