DEAR0001667
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Artimus Robotics Inc. new award.
Project title: Low-cost electronics for pressure-agnostic actuators driving bio-inspired vehicles for deep sea mining (1954-1946).
The purpose of this award is to provide funds for Artimus Robotics Inc. It to enable environmentally conscious deep-sea mining of rare earth elements and precious metals using next-generation bio-inspired UUVs.
Key to the success of this vision are the actuators, or artificial muscles, that propel the UUVs and harvest polymetallic nodules.
Project title: Low-cost electronics for pressure-agnostic actuators driving bio-inspired vehicles for deep sea mining (1954-1946).
The purpose of this award is to provide funds for Artimus Robotics Inc. It to enable environmentally conscious deep-sea mining of rare earth elements and precious metals using next-generation bio-inspired UUVs.
Key to the success of this vision are the actuators, or artificial muscles, that propel the UUVs and harvest polymetallic nodules.
Awardee
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Boulder,
Colorado
United States
Geographic Scope
City-Wide
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 08/09/24 to 02/09/25.
Artimus Robotics was awarded
Project Grant DEAR0001667
worth $500,000
from Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy in August 2022 with work to be completed primarily in Boulder Colorado United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years 6 months and
was awarded through assistance program 81.135 Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity SOLICITATION ON TOPICS INFORMING NEW PROGRAM AREAS SBIR/STTR.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
Low-cost electronics for pressure-agnostic actuators driving bio-inspired vehicles for deep sea mining
Abstract
As the United States pushes for independence regarding energy-related imports, it is necessary to expand the search for rare earth elements used in renewable energy industries. There is an estimated 100 billion tons of rare earth elements along the ocean floors, which is 10 million times the average annual consumption of the United States. However, leveraging this nearly untapped resource presents new engineering challenges; unconventional technologies for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are required for practical and cost-effective componentry that is inherently tolerant to the immense external pressures experienced at the ocean floor. The vision of this proposal is to enable environmentally conscious deep-sea mining of rare earth elements and precious metals using next-generation bio-inspired UUVs. Key to the success of this vision are the actuators, or artificial muscles, that propel the UUVs and harvest polymetallic nodules. Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatics (HASEL) actuators, the core technology of Artimus Robotics, are uniquely suited for deep-sea operation; these actuators are pressure agnostic, silent, muscle-mimetic, displacement sensing, and can be made from inexpensive materials. However, a large gap still exists between the cost of the actuators and their associated driving electronics, which are essential to generate muscle-like actuation. The objectives of this proposal are aimed at creating custom inexpensive high voltage electronics to drive HASEL actuators for deep-sea missions. UUVs based on the technologies developed here will have applications in other energy-related initiatives such as carbon dioxide monitoring and mitigation and ocean agriculture for biomass production.
Topic Code
N/A
Solicitation Number
None
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/19/24
Period of Performance
8/10/22
Start Date
2/9/25
End Date
Funding Split
$500.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$500.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to DEAR0001667
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
DEAR0001667
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
897030 ADVANCED RSRCH PROJ AGENCY ARPA-E
Funding Office
897002 ADVANCED RSRCH PROJ AGENCY ARPA-E
Awardee UEI
C5GZNPTN7418
Awardee CAGE
87TA2
Performance District
CO-02
Senators
Michael Bennet
John Hickenlooper
John Hickenlooper
Budget Funding
Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Energy Programs, Energy (089-0337) | Energy supply | Research and development contracts (25.5) | $500,000 | 100% |
Modified: 8/19/24