The status of ultrasonic motors in the former Soviet Union

Abstract From Western scientific publications it seems that many interesting results of the former Soviet Union's research are not known to the Western researchers because of the language barrier. The first experimental prototypes of ultrasonic motors in the former Soviet Union were designed in 1963–64 by M.E. Archangelskij, V.V. Lavrinenko and colleagues. The Research Center ‘Vibrotechnika’ started research and design of ultrasonic motors in 1969 for special applications and mode-coupled motors were designed in 1973. Nanometric resolution computer-controlled positioning systems were developed before 1990. This paper discusses 25 years of ultrasonic motor research and engineering in the former Soviet Union from 1970 to today.