← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 6 (started at 3, targeting 6)
The goal of this IRAD is to design, manufacture, and test actuator drive components coated with new novel materials that have exceptionally strong hardness and low coefficient of friction properties for potential use in devices from room to cryogenic temperatures.
New thin film low friction coating technologies have recently been developed and matured to the point for use in this IRAD actuator work.
The new novel materials have exceptionally strong hardness and low coefficient of friction properties. The coatings have been applied to the actuator drive components.
The next step in this project is the analysis of the performance and life tested for potential future space flight application, which is underway.
The benefit to NASA would be to have a new technological capability for developing reliable, long life electromechanical actuators that can routinely operate from room to cryogenic temperatures for millions of cycles, far surpassing any present commercially available products for space flight use.
The same benefit exists here to NASA as for funded mission and would also include the potential cost savings of technology development on future missions that require long life actuators for deep space missions.
Presently, no known commercial aerospace actuator vendor in the US has the resources or capability to perform this work and no other known government agency is pursuing it. If successfully developed, there is potential for commercial technology transfer of this IRAD technology via SBIR or other equivalent methods for licensing purpose and future and other government agency use.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.