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GAM recently soft-launched its new GML Series Wheel Drive that uses planetary gearing for a coaxial system. The motor is located directly behind the wheel without axle offset, which GAM said results in a cylindrical structure from the wheel to the motor.

According to GAM, the new GML Series Wheel Drive can be used as a direct drive or as a differential drive and can be combined with a steering drive to form a drive-steer unit. GAM said some of the benefits of the drive include:

• Compact design with very short overall length
• Motor mount customized to your motor, no additional coupling needed
• Directly mount the wheel to the gearbox output flange
• Integrated wheel bearing for high loads
• Very high efficiency
• 3 frame sizes available
• Fully sealed and maintenance-free
• Optional wheel available

There are a variety of chassis concepts used in automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). For an AGV, the alignment of the vehicle frame is fixed by the chassis. This leads to increased space requirements when cornering. For an AMR, the orientation of the vehicle frame can be set independently of the vehicle position. The required movement can be achieved using different combinations of travel, steering, and combination steering/travel wheel drives as well as non-driven wheels used for load support.

According to GAM, the new GML series coaxial wheel hub gearbox can be used in the following configurations: tricycle, differential drive and 4 drives with mecanum wheels. GAM said the GML series coaxial wheel hub gearbox will be fully launched later in 2023.

With its engineering and manufacturing flexibility, GAM can collaborate with robotics developers on the right product for its application — from its standard GML and OPG gearboxes to custom solutions for specific applications. GAM is a U.S.-owned manufacturing company that’s been in business for more than 30 years. Its product range of robotic and servo gear reducers, rack and pinion, linear mounts, servo couplings, and other specialized mechanical drive solutions is one of the largest in the industry.