HYBRID ACTUATION IMPROVES CONTROL AND RELIABILITY IN SECURITY BARRIER DROP ARM SYSTEM

An OEM of active vehicle security barriers, bollards, and drop & swing arms needed a reliable actuation solution for their drop arm system. They were experiencing ongoing challenges with their existing electro-mechanical actuators (EMAs) that were repeatedly failing due to shock loading during operation. These sudden load conditions placed excessive stress on internal mechanical components including screws, gears, nuts, and bearings, leading to premature actuator failure and maintenance concerns.

The OEM needed a more robust solution capable of handling the shock loading inherent with this application while maintaining precise control of the barrier arm. In addition, the OEM was looking for a complete actuation solution source to eliminate the need to manage multiple suppliers and simplify their supply chain.