HERA: A Cost-Effective and High-Performance Robotic Arm Architecture for Versatile Space Applications

The Hyper Extension-Retraction Actuator (HERA) robotic arm architecture, developed by Sol Robotics, is a high-performance, versatile, and cost-effective manipulator technology designed for both terrestrial and non-terrestrial applications. HERA robots feature a novel parallel-actuated extension system, providing exceptional reach, stowability, payload capacity, and precision. Sol Robotics proposes a space-qualified HERA robot to help NASA transition away from bespoke robotic arm designs, ultimately reducing costs across various mission types. The funding requested for this Phase I SBIR will be used to assess the feasibility of adapting an existing terrestrial HERA prototype—already with 400+ pre-orders—for space applications through simulation. These findings will also inform the development of a conceptual design package for a space-qualified HERA, along with a parametric cost assessment to help NASA evaluate the technology’s value proposition. With a commercially viable terrestrial model sharing many components, Sol Robotics aims to position a space-adapted HERA as a highly cost-effective solution for a target market that includes NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and allied commercial space companies.