The Barnabas Motion System

Overview

The Barnabas Motion System [US Patent granted] is a simple low-cost means of converting largely unregulated rotary motion into precisely controlled, and highly dynamic motion in two linear dimensions. Sources of largely unregulated rotary motion are:

• An AC induction motor connected via a switch into the mains, such as you would find in a vacuum cleaner.
• A DC motor connected via a switch to a battery, with no control electronics.
• An internal combustion engine, such as you might find in a lawnmower.

Precisely controlled means:

• The ratio between the input rotary motion and output linear motion is stepless and predictable via a simple linear mathematical formula.
• It forms a four-quadrant drive, that is, for each linear dimension, it goes equally well in both directions and power can flow both out of and back into the source (motor).
• The achieving zero speed with holding force is also inherent to the operation of the device.

Highly dynamic means:

• The system is ratio-based, rather than force-based, which means that acceleration is only limited by the grip of the wheels on the surface.
• The system contains a flywheel, so that, even with a relatively small motor, rapid acceleration/deceleration cycles can be achieved on a continuous basis.

The implications of motion in two linear dimensions are:

• The combination of 2 such devices can be used to create a vehicle capable of independent motion in any direction including rotation about its own axis.
• The combination of 3 such devices can be used to create a motion simulation platform capable of motion in all six degrees of freedom (linear motion in X, Y and Z axes, plus rotary motion about all 3 axes).

This concept is available for joint venture development and/or manufacture under licence, or outright sale.