Actuators
A robot is only as rugged as its joints. Ferradyne actuators combine a brushless motor, cycloidal gearbox, motor controller and position sensing in one sealed housing. They are built for robots that work outdoors, in emergencies and in hazardous industrial areas.
Our actuators are in development. The features below are what we are designing and testing them to do.
Why we make our own
Sealed, explosion-proof actuators are hard to buy. Most high-torque robot actuators are designed for clean, dry labs and factories, and an existing design usually can't be retrofitted to pass hazardous-area standards later. So we design ours for the end use from the first drawing, guided by what our own robot, R1, has to survive in the field.
Built for hard environments
- Sealed against dust and water, targeting IP67 or better
- Designed for explosion-risk areas, targeting hazardous-area Zone 1
- Protection method chosen before detailed design, because certification applies to a specific design and is hard to add afterwards
- Housing and seals designed for heat, knocks and grit, not just the bench
Inside the actuator
- Brushless motor with field oriented control, from a motor controller we design ourselves, for smooth, efficient and precise torque
- Cycloidal gearbox for high torque in a compact package, without the weight of planetary gears or the cost of harmonic drives
- Position sensing and control electronics integrated into the same sealed housing
- Runs on a 48 V system, common in modern robots
Knows its own condition
Before a robot goes into the field, its operator should know it is ready. If it is damaged during the mission, they should know what it can still do safely. That can't be added on later, so each actuator is designed to report on its own condition and help the robot carry on with reduced capability instead of failing outright.
Designed alongside our own robot
Actuators earn trust by doing real work. Ours are designed alongside R1, our emergency response and industrial inspection robot, so we can test them against the stairs, debris, water and loads that real missions bring.
Designed and built in the U.S.
We design and assemble our actuators in the United States, and keep the parts we buy to standard components, so robot builders have a supply they can rely on.
Work with us
If you build robots or equipment for wet, dusty or hazardous places and can't find an actuator that survives them, we would like to hear what you need. Get in touch.