HEBI Robotics earns NASA SBIR grant to fast track miniaturized actuators

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

HEBI Robotics today stated it has actually gotten a brand-new NASA Small company Advancement Research Study (SBIR) Stage I agreement. With the agreement, HEBI will certainly fast-track its miniaturized high torque thickness modular actuators for SmallSats and difficult atmospheres.

” With area coming to be progressively commercialized, there is actual need for economical, functional, and scalable mass-production of robot systems that can work in hard atmospheres,” stated Andrew Willig, HEBI’s supervisor of equipment. “We’re seeking to bring the cost factor down on tough equipment without jeopardizing the dependability that an essential market such as aerospace counts on.”

NASA desires a lot more adaptability in extreme atmospheres

In this most current SBIR honor to HEBI Robotics, NASA required study right into suggested miniaturized actuators appropriate for tough applications. The honor mentioned that these actuators are of passion to NASA for usage in CubeSats and various other space-limited atmospheres where standard control equipment does not have adaptability.

The Stage I honor is slated to go through December 2026. It provides HEBI a chance to discover the actuation profession area for product packaging high torque thickness electric motor and transmission mixes.

The Pittsburgh-based company stated it plans to incorporate them in a little, mission-ready type element. This would certainly connect the space in between affordable, low-performance leisure activity servos and expensive, custom-made space robotics systems, it insisted.

Keeping In Mind that this Stage I honor was just component of HEBI’s roadmap, Willig stated the firm likewise prepares to proceed establishing its existing actuation equipment.

” Area is hard, yet the lessons use right here in the world also,” Willig stated. “Making systems that are simple to utilize and tough methods these actuators are of passion not simply to NASA yet to any individual searching for modular actuation equipment they can release in harsh and unsafe atmospheres in the area.”

HEBI expands its partnership with NASA

HEBI has actually collaborated with NASA with tasks such as this ‘Superball’ mobile robotic made with HEBI actuators.|Resource: HEBI Robotics

Previously this year, HEBI earned a Stage II SBIR agreement from NASA to create and examine actuation equipment made to run in extreme area atmospheres. The two-year, $850,000 job consists of structure control electronic devices that collaborate with the HEBI Robotics system and third-party systems.

NASA stated it wishes to quicken the growth of flight-ready actuation modern technology for reduced Planet orbit (LEO) and geosynchronous Planet orbit (GEO) objectives.

HEBI Robotics stated it it offers versatile modulators for developing custom-made robotics swiftly and dependably. It offers “Lego-like” modular actuation equipment with software application made to be user-friendly for study laboratories and commercial groups worldwide.

The Carnegie Mellon University spinout stated its modern technology can speed up growth and assistance sensible automation in difficult atmospheres. For example, the firm in 2014 developed modular foundation for NASA.

HEBI won a 2025 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its “inchworm” family members of robotics.

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The article HEBI Robotics earns NASA SBIR grant to fast track miniaturized actuators showed up initially on The Robot Report.