Brushless DC motor
Motor de corriente continua sin escobillas
- Date
- 1962 · confidence high
- Place
- Durham, North Carolina, United States
- Credited to
- T. G. Wilson and P. H. Trickey
- Field
- Matter & energy
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What it is
A motor with permanent magnets on the rotor that replaces the commutator with electronic transistor switching. It is more durable, efficient and precise, and drives hard drives, drones, fans and electric cars.
Wilson and Trickey presented a 'DC machine with solid-state commutation' in 1962; there were tube-based precedents (Harrison, 1950s) and industrial use came in the 1970s-80s.
What it led to
- disk drives and computer fans
- drones and electric vehicles
- industrial and robotic servo motors