Brushless DC motors or BLDC motors have definite advantages over traditional brushed motors. They have a much longer lifespan, are more precise and efficient, make minimal noise and are also smaller in size. BLDC motors have revolutionized the mechanical motion realm and have enabled notable advances in engineering technologies. 

From outer space to the hospital bed, brushless motors have become an indispensable part of modern life. Here are three industry applications where brushless DC motors are preferred over their brush-type counterparts.

Electrical vehicles (EVs)

While brushed DC motors have dominated the automobile industry owing to their simplicity and low cost, BLDCs are increasingly making headway into automotive manufacturing owing to the many advantages they offer over regular motors. 

BLDCs have long been used to power windshield wipers, power windows, music players and other components in automobiles, but now they’re also being used in electric cars as they offer distinct advantages over brushed DC motors and AC induction motors. Compact BLDC motors have found favor with EV manufacturers as they’re nearly twice as efficient as brushed motors, easier to maintain, usable at higher speeds, easier to control and less susceptible to failure.

Brushless motors are used across electric vehicles, including bikes, scooters, and cars. Their greater precision, anti-sparking technology, and self-starting capability make them the ideal choice for use in green vehicles of the future.

Assisted breathing equipment

While the BLDC motor is used in numerous ways across the healthcare industry, this is just one application that has improved the lives of scores of patients dependent on ventilators to stay alive. 

Before manufacturers started using BLDC motors in portable ventilators, caregivers and family members needed to deal with heavy and unwieldy breathing apparatus during patient transfer. Because of their compact size, BLDCs have enabled new-age mini ventilators as small as a box of chocolates. In addition, unlike brushed motors, BLDC motors are not prone to sparking, which makes them safe for use in flammable equipment such as breathing devices.

Aside from this, BLDC motors are used in a multitude of medical applications, including hospital beds, surgical tools, PAP respirators (used for the treatment of sleep apnea), medical analyzers, automatic dispensers, prosthetics, clinical diagnostics, lab automation, MRI machines, biopsy devices and more.

Aerospace

NASA has been using brushless DC motors in their outer space missions for more than five decades. BLDCs are highly resistant to wear and breakage and they’re built to survive harsh conditions, which is why they have been used extensively in drones, robotic arms, rovers and more.

Brushless DC motors have been extensively tested for their ability to withstand the extreme conditions encountered in outer space. Researchers have found that brushless motors are more apt for use in space exploration owing to their no-spark technology, high torque, superior speed regulation, and durability. Brushless motors can last a decade without maintenance and still continue to work at peak performance. In the near future, brushless motors are expected to find a place in the Mars 2020 mission as well as satellites and defense technologies.