Boom-Enabled Actuating Manipulator (BEAM)

The Boom-Enabled Actuating Manipulator (BEAM) system's primary purpose is to offer an advanced, multi-functional robotic manipulator solution that can accommodate a wide range of end-effectors, such as mechanical arms, advanced drilling units, and various manipulation tools. This versatility ensures BEAM's capacity to perform diverse tasks, from sample collection and analysis to intricate assembly or repair operations in the challenging environment of space. The intended use of the funding through the SBIR program includes the development and validation of the BEAM system's proof-of-concept, rigorous laboratory testing to establish material and structural integrity, and the construction of a subscale prototype. This funding will also support the exploration of novel materials and mechanisms, such as bi-stable booms and Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) tendons, which are critical for achieving SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) optimization in space missions. Target markets for the BEAM system encompass a wide range of applications in space exploration, including NASA and other space agency-directed missions to various celestial bodies within our solar system. These missions require innovative solutions for mobility, manipulation, and sampling in low-gravity environments, where the BEAM system's unique capabilities can significantly contribute. Furthermore, the BEAM system's adaptability and efficiency position it as an attractive option for non-traditional space system suppliers and commercial space entities focusing on satellite deployment, space station construction, and deep space exploration. The specific invention of the BEAM system will seek to leverage and build on existing NASA heritage and IP for deployable composite booms per listed active and pending patents.