Bluewater (BWT) is currently applying its advanced control technologies toward the technology development and commercialization of a Commutational Ramp Load Actuator (CRLA) for hard disk drives (HDD).The CRLA product being developed by BWT is an advanced electro-mechanical actuator assembly with integrated hardware and firmware. The CRLA is designed to control the ramp loading/unloading and data seek movements of the HDD arm/coil assembly (ACA). The CRLA design provides improved performance and an overall cost reduction compared to existing, conventional ramp load actuator assemblies. The CRLA technology significantly reduces the volume and surface area of the HDD actuator magnet and ACA which facilitate the following design improvements: Decreased HDD cost, enhancing competitive position of energy efficient ramp load drives. Elimination of mechanical latch, reducing HDD cost and decreasing product liability and warranty claims. Increased ACA speed, effectively reducing actuator move time. The project activity for these contracts consists of applied research and design of a new and unique commutational disk drive actuator that performs the ramp load/unload and seeking operations for the arm of a hard disk drive. The commutational actuator is a synergistic combination of a magnet/coil assembly, magnetic bias feature, and ramp. The commutational actuator is of reduced size and cost compared to conventional ramp load actuators that are currently used. The reduced size and cost are facilitated by requiring the actuator arm to travel through a magnetic transition zone which presents an uncontrollable, singular region within the actuator arm sweep angle on the ramp. To promote travel through the uncontrollable, singular region, a special head loading/unloading closed-loop control algorithm that will be developed to provide failsafe operation through this transition zone. The broader commercial potential of the proposed activity will result from the development of a transformative control technology allowing âcontrol through an uncontrolled regionâ and include: (a) dynamic analysis and control of diesel engines for improved efficiency and lower emissions; (b) personal assistive technologies for an aging population; and (c) various military defense and homeland security technologies. In addition, the broader impact of this project will include (a) involvement of undergraduate students in applied research activities; (b) collaboration with practicing engineers; (c) recruitment of prospective students into engineering and promoting engineering; and (d) transfer of technology to disk drive indust
