HEBI Robotics Earns NASA SBIR Grant for Miniaturized Actuators

HEBI Robotics has received a NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract to accelerate the development of miniaturized high torque density modular actuators for space and other demanding applications.

The Pittsburgh-based robotics company will explore compact actuator designs intended for SmallSats, CubeSats, and environments where traditional robotic manipulation systems face limitations due to size, weight, and flexibility requirements.

The NASA-funded project will focus on combining high-performance motors and gearboxes into a small, mission-ready form factor while maintaining reliability for critical applications.

Andrew Willig, Director of Hardware at HEBI Robotics, stated:

“With space becoming increasingly commercialized, there is real demand for affordable, versatile, and scalable mass-production of robotic systems that can function in difficult environments. We’re looking to bring the price point down on rugged hardware without compromising the reliability that a critical industry such as aerospace relies on.”

HEBI Robotics said the actuator technology aims to bridge the gap between low-cost hobby servos with limited performance and expensive custom-designed space robotics hardware.

The Phase I SBIR contract is expected to continue through December 2026 and will allow HEBI to evaluate actuator configurations for high torque density applications. The company will also continue advancing its existing modular actuation platforms for research and industrial users.

HEBI Robotics has previously collaborated with NASA on projects including the Superball mobile robot and received additional SBIR funding to develop actuation hardware for harsh space environments.

The company develops modular robotic components and software that enable researchers and engineers to rapidly build customized robotic systems. Its actuator technology is designed for applications across aerospace, industrial automation, and other challenging operational environments.