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.

Deep sea technology

Smaller, lighter, but powerful nonetheless.

maxon drives are ideal for compact mini ROVs, AUVs, and applications that need to withstand the harsh environmental conditions in the deep sea at pressures up to 600 bar. The compact design is also perfect for use in underwater applications such as manipulators and grippers, as well as controllers for cameras, light sources, and sensors. 

Max. immersion depth of 6000 meters

Compact and robust design

No short-term maintenance required

Service life of up to 1000 hours

Suitable for use at up to 600 bar

No erosion (POM & titanium)

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.

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. 

MT 20

 

  • Power:36 VDC / 4.7 (8.0) ADC

  • Bollard thrust 1.3 (2.2) kg

  • Weight in salt water: 130 g

MT 30

 

  • Power: 48 VDC / 10 (16) ADC

  • Bollard thrust 3.7 (6.3) kg

  • Weight in salt water: 262 g

MT 40

 

  • Power: 48 VDC / 20 (29) ADC

  • Bollard thrust 7 (10.7) kg

  • Weight in salt water: 540 g

MT70

MT 70

 

  • Power: 48 VDC / 17.6 ADC

  • Bollard thrust max. 16.8 kg

  • Weight in salt water: 2830 gr

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.

MC30_2

MC 30

 

  • Oil volume: 10 ml
  • Panolin HLP Synth 15
  • Weight in salt water: 30 g
MC70_2

MC 70

 

  • Oil volume: 50 ml
  • Panolin HLP Synth 15
  • Weight in salt water: 71 g

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.

Story

Hidden resources.

The surface of the ocean conceals many secrets: unexplored depths, grotesque life forms, and precious resources. To find these resources, a Norwegian company has developed a technology for scanning the bottom of the ocean.

Learn more

Corporate Blog

Success stories

From cleaning to treasure hunts, maxon drives do reliable work under water. On earth and beyond.
Go to the blog
PetroMarker_OlympicCommander_BarentsSeamaxon Story

Hidden resources

The surface of the ocean conceals many secrets – unexplored depths, grotesque life forms, and precious resources. To find these resources, a Norwegian company has developed a technology for scanning the bottom of the ocean in greater detail.
Learn more
Ibass_2012_PI_Tube_03_Meerwassermanipulator_im_Rohr_16x24maxon Story

Underwater inspection on twelve wheels.

Inspecting flooded pipes of power plants requires skilled, high-precision handling. And the robotic vehicles have to be optimized accordingly, for example to dive 20 m deep. The new seawater manipulator is capable of maneuvering underwater in pipes, where it can be used to perform inspections. RE motors by maxon motor are responsible for the dynamic drive of the robot.
Learn more
Halle_webmaxon Story

Brave new underwater world

Engineers at the Robotics Innovation Center in Bremen have been working with underwater robots. They are intended to help us understand the world’s oceans. And in the future also the deep waters of other planets.
Learn more
Go to the blog

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.