InteliSpark client Vishwa Robotics has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant worth $124,754 for the project “Shock Proof Actuators for Unmanned Undersea and Surface Vehicles”. The goal of this project is to create a shock proof electromechanical actuator (named CESAR) for Unmanned and Undersea and Surface Vehicles (UxV) control surfaces, to operate in a high sea-state ocean environment.
Current conventional surface ships retreat from extreme ocean environmental conditions. Rather, the UxVs are expected to survive and operate in these extreme conditions. Therefore, the control surfaces and actuators of the UxVs must be capable of withstanding high force levels and endure acceleration when encountering large waves, being tossed and dropped. Also, whilst being sufficiently compact and lightweight in order to be integrated into the platform. Conventional commercial actuator components and comprised of a motor and gearing; the gears and associated bearing are therefore extremely vulnerable to damage under high shock levels and huge back driving forces. The Navy uses these commercial UxV platforms and tethered Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which are also used by the oil industry and ocean scientists.
Vishwa Robotics’ innovative technology addresses these problems. They have created product that provides high power density, while sustaining reliability and low maintenance of electromechanical drive. The Vishwa CESAR will be capable of functioning at any depth, in any environment (e.g., chemical, corrosive, high temperature, cryogenic condiditons, or high pressure and space). The CESAR also provides force density and bidirectional displacement. CESAR technology could also be installed into ruggedized variants of commercial UxVs and ROVs. The CESAR actuators could provide control surface for other sea craft and find applications as high efficiency, low noise electromechanical muscles for robotics for space and military applications.