Extreme Environment Hybrid Gearbox Technology

Rocketstar Robotics proposes the development of a gearbox that uses all ball rolling contact for the highest loaded output gear reduction stage(s), is dry film lubricated and limits peak stresses to the well documented threshold limitation of dry film lubricants. Extensive test data exists in the literature for the reliable application of dry film lubricants in ball bearing applications. A gear reducer that utilizes ball bearing gear elements as the gear reducers highest loaded components will provide high specific torque and reliable, long life performance consistent with existing test data.

The potential uses for this technology for commercial applications are too numerous to name them all however some examples might be deep sea robotics and actuators for science, military or oil drilling applications, arctic or ant-arctic applications, high altitude air vehicle applications, and industrial low temperature applications.

Some potential NASA applications include; Mars landers/rovers, Earth and non-Earth Moon landers/rovers, asteroid exploration landers/rovers, on-orbit or space based cryogenic applications such as space telescopes and instruments, extreme environment antenna pointing mechanisms and robotics applications as well as rocket engine fuel management applications.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — 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.