A direct-drive mechanism is a mechanism design where the force or torque from a prime mover is transmitted directly to the effector device (such as the drive wheels of a vehicle) without involving any intermediate couplings such as a gear train or a belt.^[1][2][3][4]

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In the late 19th century and early 20th century, some of the earliest locomotives and cars used direct drive transmissions at higher speeds.^[5][6] Direct-drive mechanisms for industrial arms began to be possible in the 1980s, with the use of rare-earth magnetic materials.^[1] The first direct-drive arm was built in 1981 at Carnegie Mellon University.^[7] Today the most commonly used magnets are neodymium magnets.^[8]

Direct-drive systems are characterized by smooth torque transmission, and nearly-zero backlash.^[9][10][11] The main^{[citation needed]} benefits of a direct-drive system are increased efficiency (due to reduced power losses from the drivetrain components) and being a simpler design with fewer moving parts. Major benefits also include the ability to deliver high torque over a wide range of speeds, fast response, precise positioning, and low inertia.^[12][13]

The main drawback is that a special type of electric motor is often needed to provide high torque outputs at low rpm. Compared with a multi-speed transmission, the motor is usually operating in its optimal power band for a smaller range of output speeds for the system (e.g., road speeds in the case of a motor vehicle).

Direct-drive mechanisms also need a more precise control mechanism. High-speed motors with speed reduction have relatively high inertia, which helps smooth the output motion. Most motors exhibit positional torque ripple known as cogging torque. In high-speed motors, this effect is usually negligible, as the frequency at which it occurs is too high to significantly affect system performance; direct-drive units will suffer more from this phenomenon unless additional inertia is added (i.e. by a flywheel) or the system uses feedback to actively counter the effect.

Direct-drive mechanisms are used in applications ranging from low speed operation (such as phonographs, telescope mounts and ski lifts, video game racing wheels and gearless wind turbines)^[14][15][16] to high speeds (such as fans, computer hard drives, VCR heads, sewing machines, CNC machines and washing machines.)

Some electric railway locomotives have used direct-drive mechanisms, such as the 1919 Milwaukee Road class EP-2 and the 2007 East Japan Railway Company E331. Several cars from the late 19th century used direct-drive wheel hub motors, as did some concept cars in the early 2000s; however, most modern electric cars use inboard motor(s), where drive is transferred to the wheels, via the axles.^[17][18]

Some automobile manufacturers have managed to create their own unique direct-drive transmissions, such as the one Christian von Koenigsegg invented for the Koenigsegg Regera.^[19]

• Belt-drive
• Chain-drive
• Direct-drive sim racing wheel
• Drive shaft
• Hubless wheel
• Linear motor
• Individual wheel drive