Mechatronic engineering involving electric motors goes beyond the mere combination of different disciplines. It is the intelligent fusion of mechanics, electronics, computer science, and systems engineering into a holistic development philosophy. This approach results in electric motor-based products whose functionality and performance far exceed what would be possible by looking at each discipline in isolation.
The market challenge: why innovation in electric motors is essential
Automated door systems with electric motors are widely available on the market. However, many of the existing solutions are inflexible, bulky, expensive, and unable to distinguish between a legitimate resident and an unknown person at the door. The engineers at Antrimon recognised this market gap. They developed an entirely new solution featuring innovative electric motors: the smartdoor TURN.
An analysis of existing door automation systems with conventional electric motors revealed several fundamental issues. These systems are often oversized, require significant space, and consume energy continuously due to electrically operated locking mechanisms. Furthermore, they lack modern identification capabilities.
The smartdoor TURN concept: innovation through interdisciplinary electric motor engineering
The smartdoor TURN identifies authorised users via Bluetooth Smart and opens the door securely in low-energy mode – without the need for additional sensors. While this function may sound simple, it is the result of a highly complex mechatronic development process involving specially tailored electric motors.
The first innovation lies in the identification technology: Bluetooth Smart enables automatic recognition of authorised individuals without requiring them to interact with a device. The second – and even more significant – innovation is the mechanical locking system integrated with electric motors.
Mechanical innovation: using springs instead of power in electric motors
The mechanical locking system of the smartdoor TURN is a prime example of smart mechatronic engineering with electric motors. Instead of keeping the door electrically locked at all times, a mechanical spring takes on this role. This brings several key advantages for the electric motors.
The most obvious benefit is energy consumption. As no continuous voltage is required for locking, power usage is significantly reduced. Less apparent but equally important is the increased reliability and fail-safety of the electric motors.
Compact design through intelligent integration of electric motors
Compared to other door automation systems, the smartdoor TURN is roughly 30% narrower – comparable in size to purely mechanical locking systems. This compact design was only made possible through the intelligent integration of all components, including the electric motors.
The electronics were custom-developed for the application and seamlessly integrated into the mechanical system with the electric motors. Rather than relying on separate modules for each function, a holistic solution was created.
Interdisciplinary collaboration: the key to success in electric motor development
The smartdoor TURN is a textbook example of interdisciplinary mechatronic engineering with electric motors. A unified hole pattern on the back, a spring integrated into the gearbox, and communication via Bluetooth Smart – all these innovations arose from close collaboration across multiple disciplines.
A good product developer immerses themselves in the customer’s challenges – empathy is crucial. Only by understanding and reflecting on what truly matters to the customer can a suitable, successful solution with the right electric motors be found.
Conclusion: mechatronics as a driver of innovation in electric motors
Mechatronic engineering with electric motors is more than just a development method – it is a driver of innovation that enables entirely new product categories. The success of mechatronic development depends significantly on the quality of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Do you have a product idea that requires mechatronic engineering with electric motors?
At Antrimon, our interdisciplinary teams develop innovative mechatronic solutions – from the initial idea all the way to series production. You can find out more here:
