Dutch deep tech hardware scale-up / university spin-out, offering a gearbox that is quieter, smoother, more efficient, and with inherent shock load resistance is looking for collaboration partners in humanoid robotics.

Summary

Profile Type

Technology offer

POD Reference

TONL20240424017

Term of Validity

25 April 2024 - 25 April 2026

Company's Country

Netherlands

Type of partnership

Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Targeted Countries

All countries

Contact the EEN partner nearest to you for more information.

Find my local partner

General information

Short Summary

Dutch scale up / technical university spin-out, has developed gearbox technology that is 15dB quieter and 15% more efficient than existing high precision gear boxes. The patented technology utilizes smooth traction rollers instead of conventional gear teeth. This allows the gearbox to act as a friction brake when absorbing high shock loads rather than having an abrupt failure. The company is looking for collaboration partners in humanoid robotics with the framework of a commercial agreement.

Full Description

Improving the performance of humanoid robots on the aspects of operating in uncontrolled environments with lower noise, energy usage and weight is a main challenge.

The type of gearbox largely determines the performance characteristics of a robot At its core, gearbox technology has not changed for 50 years and has become the bottleneck within humanoid robotics. That's why this technical university spin-out has developed a lower-weight and robust gearbox that utilizes smooth traction rollers instead of conventional gear teeth.

This unique IP-protected speed reducer technology equips humanoids with enhanced stiffness, efficiency, and precision, lowers noise and offers vital protection against overload failure. Based on these advantages and the technology's market potential, the company has defined the ambition to become the world leader in transmission systems for the humanoid market.

To make steps towards this ambition the company is looking for innovative companies, corporates or SMEs, that want to become early adopters of their new transmission systems. After purchasing the toothless gearbox it can be tested and, in close collaboration with the scale-up, be tuned to the specific needs of the company’s application. Partners are sought in humanoid robotics within the framework of a commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Advantages and Innovations

Advantages of the high-precision gearbox technology are:
- 5x more precise (far less mechanical play),
- 15% more efficient (less energy usage)
- 3x stiffer
- 15dB less noise
- protection against overload failure (overload does not damage the gearbox like with conventional gearboxes)

Innovative aspect of the high-precision gearbox technology is that it is the only high-precision gearbox that doesn't use gear teeth but relies on traction to transmit torque. So the precision gearbox does not have the negative aspects of using gear teeth (backlash, low efficiency, high noise, high heat generation, low durability, etc.) The high-precision gearbox technology is protected by the patent on “compound planetary traction drive” technology.

Stage of Development

Already on the market

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

IPR status

IPR granted

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner

The foreseen partner is a corporate or SMEs that develops and manufactures humanoid robots.

The partner is expected to integrate the gearbox into their application, test the gearbox, or collaborate on building their application based on the innovative gearbox technology

Type and Size of Partner