HEBI Robotics Awarded SBIR Phase I Grant by NASA

$150,000 in funding from NASA will be used to develop space rated modular robotic building blocks

HEBI Robotics, creator of a robot development platform that makes it possible to quickly design and create robust robots, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by NASA to develop smart robotic actuation hardware and building blocks that are compatible with the HEBI Platform for robot development, and suitable for use in missions to space.

“For ten years, HEBI has been working to streamline the process of developing robots.  Customers around the world use our system to create robust robots that would have been infeasible without the HEBI Platform,” said Bob Raida, CEO of HEBI Robotics.  “Many of those users are designing systems that will ultimately be deployed in space.  This project will make it possible for those users to design and build robots in their lab with the HEBI Platform, knowing that work will carry through to the final production design and system.”

Figure 1: The HEBI Robotics Platform for building custom systems consists of Modular “Lego-like” building blocks.

HEBI’s long term goal is to make it easy for any professional to create robust professional grade robots, without requiring years of technical training.  The HEBI Platform is used by developers in a variety of industries, and those robots often need to perform in challenging environments. Over the years, HEBI has expanded its hardware to be capable of performing in a wider range of environments including wet and dirty environments, and underwater.  

This grant will support HEBI’s efforts to further expand the platform with “Space-Rated Modular Robotic Building Blocks”.  The technology developed will make it possible to design and create robots terrestrially with HEBI building blocks, and then transfer that work to space-rated HEBI hardware that can be deployed in missions in space, representing a major leap forward in robotics.

The Phase I SBIR program is designed to encourage small businesses to engage in federal research and development with the potential for commercialization. By funding innovative projects, NASA aims to foster new technologies that can support space missions and improve our understanding of space and technology.

All proposals submitted to the NASA SBIR/STTR program undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. Once a small business is awarded a Phase I grant, it becomes eligible to apply for Phase II funding and additional supplements totaling up to $1 million.

About HEBI Robotics

HEBI Robotics produces an agile platform for robotics development. Hardware and software tools that make it possible to create capable and robust custom robots quickly. The platform is used by researchers around the world to accelerate their work, and HEBI uses the platform in collaboration with our industrial partners to develop practical automation systems that address challenging applications in the field.  Please visit www.hebirobotics.com for more information.

About SBIR

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR and STTR enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated, and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.