Due　to　the　complex　structures　of　a　permanent　magnet　eddy　current　coupling,　this　paper　presented　a　novel　structure　of　self-excited　electromagnetic　eddy　current　couplings,　which　combined　the　technology　of　excitation　power　generation　and　eddy　current　drive.　The　generating　characteristics　and　the　drive　characteristics　were　studied　on　the　self-excited　electromagnetic　eddy　current　couplings　by　establishing　the　finite　element　numerical　model　of　the　electromagnetic　fields　for　excitation　power　generation　and　eddy　current　drive.　The　influences　of　rotational　speed　differences,　conductor　layers　and　air　gap　lengths　on　the　driving　torque　were　analyzed,　then　draw　a　conclusion　that　when　the　materials　with　high　conductivity　are　used　for　the　conductor　layers,　a　larger　torque　at　a　low　rotational　speed　differences　may　be　obtained;　when　the　thicknesses　of　copper　layers　increase　from　1　mm　to　9　mm,　the　driving　torque　increases　first　and　then　decreases,　and　the　maximum　of　the　driving　torque　is　reached　at　thickness　of　5　mm.　The　driving　torque　reduces　along　with　the　increments　of　the　air　gap　lengths.　©　2017,　China　Mechanical　Engineering　Magazine　Office.　All　right　reserved.