Hyundai Wia and Hanyang University Jointly Promote Development of Next-Generation 'Block Coil Motor'

Mass Production Goal for Drive Systems for Robots

Won Kwang-min, Executive Director and Head of Vehicle Parts Research Center at Hyundai Wia (left), and Professor Lee Joo of Hanyang University signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for motor business cooperation applying block coils on the 22nd at Hanyang University in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, and are taking a commemorative photo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Hyundai Wia is partnering with Hanyang University to develop next-generation motor mass production. Hyundai Wia plans to jointly develop a robot drive system based on Hanyang University's intellectual property in block coil motors.

On the 23rd, Hyundai Wia announced that it signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Hanyang University for motor business cooperation applying block coil technology. Accordingly, Hyundai Wia and Hanyang University will open the "Hyundai Wia i-Motor Lab" on the Hanyang University campus to conduct research and foster talent together.

The block coil motor jointly developed by Hyundai Wia and Hanyang University is a technology known as the "next-generation motor." It overcomes the structural limitations of conventional motors composed of coil windings and stator magnets. The block coil motor eliminates the empty space (slot) between coil bundles by "blocking" them, creating a structure that is easier to manufacture. This technology was developed by Professor Lee Joo's team in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Hanyang University, which won the Hanyang University Technology Innovation Award in 2019 and exhibited at CES 2020.

The block coil motor developed by Hyundai Wia and Hanyang University features significantly superior performance compared to conventional motors. Currently common motors have limited materials and specific structures, restricting output. Their power-to-weight ratio was not very high. In contrast, the block coil motor, which eliminates slots, delivers much higher output than conventional motors. It can produce the same output as a conventional motor at 16% smaller size, making it suitable for precise products such as collaborative robots. If a block coil motor of the same size as a conventional motor is applied to collaborative robots, the maximum payload capacity can increase by up to 40%. Additionally, responsiveness and NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) performance are greatly improved.

Hyundai Wia and Hanyang University aim to develop mass production of block coil motors with various outputs, including those capable of up to 10kW. They plan to apply these motors to currently developing collaborative robots, parking robots (AGV), and logistics robots (AMR). Furthermore, they will apply the technology to electrified axles (e-TVTC), a four-wheel-drive component for eco-friendly vehicles, and integrated thermal management systems. Hyundai Wia intends to apply block coil motors to most product lines that use motors, elevating each product's performance to a global top level.

Hyundai Wia plans to secure technological competitiveness in future mobility and robotics fields, starting with next-generation motor technology. A Hyundai Wia official said, "We are very pleased to develop next-generation motors that overcome the limitations of conventional motors together with Hanyang University. We will not only focus on technology but also mass-produce and apply it to various products to deliver products that meet global standards in the future mobility parts and robotics markets."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.