Benzinga | Dec 20, 2021 12:03PM EST

Maxar Announces $9.3M Contract From Defense Innovation Unit To Develop Robotic Arms In Support Of Department Of Defense In-Space Assembly And Servicing Capabilities

https://blog.maxar.com/space-infrastructure/2021/defense-innovation-unit-selects-maxar-to-develop-robotic-arms-in-support-of-dod-in-space-assembly-and-servicing-capabilities

Maxar Technologies today announced that it has signed a contract with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to design and deliver two robotic arms to support the in-space assembly and servicing capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense. Established in 2015, DIU is tasked with strengthening national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military.

The $9.3 million contract allows Maxar to further develop a cost-effective robotic arm for both commercial and government customers. The flight-ready robotic arms, each about 2 meters in length, will be designed, tested and delivered to DIU within three years. A key feature of these arms is that they will be underactuated, meaning they will have a single motor running a tensioned cable system to transmit torque to any number of joints, reducing system weight and cost.