Devising a technique for measuring torque of electric motors using machine vision

Abstract

The object of research is the technique for measuring torques of electric motors. The main problem to be solved is the need to expand the range of informative parameters used in transmission torque converters of electric motors. This need arises from the design complications of placing the measuring devices directly on the motor shaft. As part of the study, a system was designed for determining the torques of electric motors, which combines the procedure for assessing the load on the shaft and software tools for visually determining the quantitative characteristics of such a load using machine vision. In order to acquire visual characteristics of the twisting of the shaft, a special coupling with an insert containing a liquid was designed. This coupling is able to change its shape in proportion to the load on electric motor shaft. The proposed visual control system, based on video information processing techniques, makes it possible to analyze changes in the shape of the coupling caused by the action of the torque. Features of the application of the proposed measurement technique are that there is no need to place electronic components of the measuring transducer directly on the shaft. Due to the specified features, the proposed procedure provides a solution to the problems of torque measurement in aggressive environments, which is of crucial importance for the efficiency of some specific production processes. Analysis of the visual characteristics of torque showed that the proposed approach could be applied in measuring transducers. At the same time, the results of testing the procedure confirmed that it requires the use of high-precision video recording equipment. This paves the way for the design of new, more modern, and reliable measurement systems that could be used in a wide range of industrial solutions