Objectives  A comparative study of the rudder transmission vibration characteristics of electric drive and traditional hydraulic drive is carried out on the basis of a telescopic rudder transmission test bed.

  Method  First, a study is made of the rotational angular velocity and the relationship between the vibration characteristics and load force of a rudder transmission driven by an electric servo motor. Next, the vibration characteristics of the mechanism under hydraulic drive and electric drive are compared and analyzed.

  Results  The results indicate that the vibration intensity has a positive correlation with the rudder blade loading force and angular velocity at the zero balance position. Both the peak-to-peak values and root-mean-square values of the vibration acceleration of the electric drive are reduced by 40% compared with the hydraulic drive, meaning that the electric drive can more effectively reduce the overall vibration of the rudder transmission.

  Conclusions  The results provide a reference for the electrification of the rudder transmission.