Drive technology for underwater vehicles
Ultimate performance underwater.
Deep below sea level, our propeller drives and actuators show what they can really do: maxon drive technology for efficient underwater systems is virtually maintenance-free, compact, light, and corrosion-free.
Propeller drives: for safe working underwater.
Durable, reliable drive technology is crucial for safe underwater missions. It needs to be able to durably withstand both the aggressive salt water and enormous pressure. Our propeller drives are therefore specially designed for deep sea applications.
They ensure that inspection, repair, analysis, research, and safety tasks can be carried out successfully.
This is not limited to the inspection of the anchors of oil platforms or offshore wind turbines.
Other typical applications are the inspection of energy and data cables on the seabed or the exploration of marine livelihoods and food sources.
Large-scale mapping and geological and volcanological investigations of the seabed are the first step towards the subsequent extraction of raw materials.
Therefore, investigations of the environmental conditions for fauna and flora are becoming increasingly important.
Our product recommendations.
Thrusters
maxon propeller drives are reliable underwater drives for ROVs and AUVs. They have a maximum immersion depth of 6000 meters, and use extremely powerful, watertight BLDC motors. In addition, they significantly extend the operating time of underwater vehicles. This means that AUVs can cover longer distances with the same battery capacity.
Compensators
Pressure compensators from maxon are an important component in underwater drives. They compensate the effects of pressure differences at depth. This compensation ensures a constant, slight positive pressure in the hydraulic system that is maintained from the surface all the way to full sea depth.
Actuators
maxon actuators generate a rotary motion and are an ideal basis for your underwater application. We are happy to look into the possibility of customization for you, such as in shaft design, spindles, special gear reduction ratio, etc. The operation and range of applications of the actuators are basically identical to the maxon thrusters, and ideal for the deep sea (max. 600 bar/6000 m depth).
MA 20
36 VDC , 0.13 Nm
4500 rpm
Weight in salt water: 130 g
MA 30
48 VDC , 0.5 Nm
2500 rpm
Weight in salt water: 262 g
MA 40
- 48 VDC , 1.1 Nm
- 2500 rpm
- Weigt in salt water: 540 g
MA 70
48 VDC , 4.4 Nm
2000 rpm
Weight in salt water: 2830 g
Customizing
Everything from a single source.
maxon develops and manufactures individual underwater drives that are perfectly tailored to the respective application. This is done using a modular system of brushless underwater DC motors, planetary gearheads, and controllers. The drive is completed by the housing and a propeller. The units are designed for use in seawater and consist mainly of titanium and plastic so that they do not corrode in the salt water and can withstand pressures up to 600 bar. Our experts are happy to advise you about a specific solution.
Drive technology for underwater vehicles
Download the brochure now.
Get an overview of the fields of application of our underwater drives, learn more about configuration options, and explore exciting use cases.
Frequently asked questions
How high is the thrust (in kg) of the various maxon thrusters?
The thrust is given as the bollard thrust in both directions. You can also find more detailed information in the data sheets for each maxon thruster model under “Product recommendations” on this page.
What does a maxon thruster cost?
The prices are based on the quantity and size. Prices for the MT20 thruster start at € 840 per unit for quantities of 1000 units or more.
Is a compensator needed for the maxon thruster even in relatively shallow water?
Yes. A compensator is always needed, since the entire system is filled with oil. The compensator is responsible for compensating the volume of the oil due to changes in temperature and pressure.
Is it possible to integrate multiple thrusters into the same hydraulic system?
In principle, it is possible to interconnect multiple thrusters or maritime drives hydraulically. The number of drives possible per compensator depends on the water depth and the size of the maxon drives. If you have questions, please get in touch with us.
Can maxon thrusters or maritime drives be customized according to a customer’s specific wishes?
Yes. Customer-specific customizations are possible. We are happy to advise you.
Contact
How can we help you?
Our maritime applications experts are happy to help you.
