Open Call for Science and Technology Created by Early-Stage (e.g. University) Teams

Designing actuation hardware for autonomous systems is challenging due to the high weight and power consumption of conventional actuators and clutches. Compared to existing clutch technologies, the electroadhesive clutches produced by ESTAT have exceptional holding force as a ratio of both mass and power consumption. They weigh 10x less and consumes 1000x less power than other clutching technologies. By using thin, lightweight materials and operating with a fundamentally unique mechanism, ESTAT clutches are able to transmit up to 180 N of force while weighing just 15 grams. ESTAT clutches consume 3.2 mW of power, and require 320 V DC for activation. The activation/deactivation time is 20 milliseconds, and we validated clutch performance for over 3 million consecutive loading cycles. We have also demonstrated the clutch in an ankle exoskeleton that assists human walking, proving the ESTAT clutch can perform reliably in a challenging application. Our vision is to provide engineers with powerful clutch hardware that makes their robot or autonomous system more dynamic, capable, and affordable. The clutch is being developed for integration into robotic arms, legs, and assistive devices for use in target applications related to automated parts handling, mobility, and human motor assistance.