{"id":29194,"date":"2026-01-13T10:48:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T09:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opentalk.iit.it\/?p=29194"},"modified":"2026-01-13T10:50:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T09:50:54","slug":"space-robotics-vacuum-as-a-resource-for-the-robots-of-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opentalk.iit.it\/en\/space-robotics-vacuum-as-a-resource-for-the-robots-of-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Space robotics: vacuum as a resource for the robots of the future"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h4><strong><span lang=\"EN-GB\">A new electrostatic actuator technology, developed by three Italian research centres, the Sant&#8217;Anna School, the University of Trento and the Italian Institute of Technology, transforms vacuum from an operational limitation to a functional resource<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vacuum, which has always been considered one of the most hostile components for mechanical systems, becomes a key resource for <strong>space robotics<\/strong> thanks to a new technology of <strong>electrostatic actuators<\/strong> developed in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-025-66232-7\">study published in the journal <strong>Nature Communications<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The research, coordinated by the <strong>Institute of Mechanical Intelligence <\/strong>at the <strong>Sant\u2019Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa<\/strong>, in collaboration with the <strong>University of Trento <\/strong>and the <strong>Italian Institute of Technology <\/strong>(IIT), opens up new perspectives in the design of more efficient, reliable and economical <strong>space robots<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The limitations of traditional electric motors in space<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the context of space missions, <strong>traditional electric motors<\/strong> \u2013 the \u201cmuscles\u201d that allow robots to move \u2013 <strong>present significant challenges<\/strong>: overheating in the absence of atmosphere, the need for special lubricants, high complexity and weight. These factors have a significant impact on the cost, reliability and performance of robotic systems operating in space.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The vacuum as an ally of movement<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The study proposes a new class of extremely light and simple electrostatic actuators that exploit the electrical properties of the vacuum. In this way, what has historically been one of the main difficulties for mechanical systems in space becomes a key element in the functioning of the actuators.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The devices developed are<strong> gearless and lubricant-free<\/strong> and are perfectly compatible with the materials and standards already used in space missions. Initial experimental results have demonstrated the ability to generate <strong>rapid movements and significant forces<\/strong>, with a <strong>very high power-to-weight ratio<\/strong> and greatly reduced energy consumption, which are crucial aspects for use in orbit and exploration missions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe have identified a solution that demonstrates how the vacuum, which has always been considered a critical environment for robotics, can become an ally in creating lighter, more efficient and reliable systems for future missions\u201d says <strong>Ion-Dan Sirbu, <\/strong>first author of the study.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Potential applications<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The technology has broad and significant application prospects: <strong>robots for maintenance and assembly in orbit<\/strong>, systems for <strong>planetary exploration<\/strong>, and <strong>mobile mechanisms for satellites and space telescopes<\/strong>. In the long term, the approach could also be extended to terrestrial contexts characterised by extreme conditions, such as the <strong>ocean floor<\/strong> or <strong>highly critical industrial environments<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Statements<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe low weight of our actuators is a determining factor in space applications, where every additional kilogram significantly affects the cost of launching into orbit\u201d comments <a href=\"https:\/\/www.santannapisa.it\/it\/marco-fontana\"><strong>Marco Fontana<\/strong><\/a>, professor at the Institute of Mechanical Intelligence at the Sant&#8217;Anna School and coordinator of the study.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe absence of air allows our actuator to reach very high speeds, eliminating losses due to friction\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/webapps.unitn.it\/du\/it\/Persona\/PER0203523\/Curriculum\"><strong>Giacomo Moretti<\/strong><\/a>, associate professor at the <strong>Department of Industrial Engineering<\/strong> at the University of Trento.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA key element in the development of these devices lies in the manufacturing process, based on the deposition of thin flexible insulating films, which allows the device to operate reliably\u201d explains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iit.it\/it\/people-profile\/-\/people\/virgilio-mattoli\"><strong>Virgilio Mattoli<\/strong><\/a>, researcher at the <strong>Centre for Materials Interfaces<\/strong> at the Italian Institute of Technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new electrostatic actuator technology, developed by three Italian research centres, the Sant&#8217;Anna School, the University of Trento and the Italian Institute of Technology, transforms vacuum from an operational limitation to a functional resource<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":29192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2423,4552],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-en-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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