HEBI Robotics earns NASA SBIR grant to fast track miniaturized actuators

Clockwise from top left: HEBI’s T-Series, R-Series, and H-Series actuators. | Source: HEBI Robotics

HEBI Robotics today said it has obtained a new NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract. With the contract, HEBI will fast-track its miniaturized high torque density modular actuators for SmallSats and challenging environments.

“With space becoming increasingly commercialized, there is real demand for affordable, versatile, and scalable mass-production of robotic systems that can function in difficult environments,” said Andrew Willig, HEBI’s director of hardware. “We’re looking to bring the price point down on rugged hardware without compromising the reliability that a critical industry such as aerospace relies on.”

In this latest SBIR award to HEBI Robotics, NASA called for research into proposed miniaturized actuators suitable for rugged applications. The award stated that these actuators are of interest to NASA for use in CubeSats and other space-limited environments where traditional manipulation hardware lacks flexibility.

The Phase I award is slated to run through December 2026. It gives HEBI an opportunity to explore the actuation trade space for packaging high torque density motor and gearbox combinations.

The Pittsburgh-based company said it intends to combine them in a small, mission-ready form factor. This would bridge the gap between inexpensive, low-performance hobby servos and costly, custom-designed space robotics systems, it asserted.

Noting that this Phase I award was only part of HEBI’s roadmap, Willig said the company also plans to continue developing its existing actuation hardware.

“Space is difficult, but the lessons apply here on earth as well,” Willig said. “Making systems that are easy to use and rugged means these actuators are of interest not just to NASA but to anyone looking for modular actuation hardware they can deploy in rough and dangerous environments in the field.”

HEBI has worked with NASA with projects such as this ‘Superball’ mobile robot made with HEBI actuators. | Source: HEBI Robotics

Earlier this year, HEBI earned a Phase II SBIR contract from NASA to develop and test actuation hardware designed to operate in harsh space environments. The two-year, $850,000 project includes building control electronics that work with the HEBI Robotics platform and third-party systems.