Technology for Shipbuilding Affordability

In a NAVAIR program, Foster-Miller produced a concept design for aShipboard Weapons Loader (SWL) which loads any weapon in theNavy's inventory to any shipboard aircraft. Due to geometricconstraints, actuators on the robotic manipulator must providetorque density exceeding the capacity of all but hydraulicdevices, which are a known maintenance liability. This SBIR aimsto demonstrate an all-electric solution to the actuator problem.In Phase I, a novel motor concept was identified which provides asmuch as 100 times the direct-drive torque of existing high-torquemotors with no increase in stall-torque power dissipation. Ahighly compact transmission design is also proposed which promisesa three times improvement in torque. Used alone or with thetransmission, the motor would provide unprecedented torque, powerand control bandwidth for the SWL as well as other motion controlapplications. Pending the outcome of the Phase I Option, whichwill concentrate on magnetostrictive actuators, Phase II willdownselect and proceed with detail design and prototypefabrication. Analysis and test results will be documented tovalidate the design rules and allow variations of the actuator tobe designed with high confidence. In Phase III, a prototypeall-electric SWL will be built and tested.