HEBI Robotics releases H-Series actuators

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HEBI Robotics last week during the Robotics Summit & Expo expanded its offerings with its new H-Series platform of smart robotic actuators. The company says this new series of actuators provides higher versatility, precision, and torque, and can be used to create custom robots for challenging environments. 

The Pittsburgh-based spin-off from Carnegie Mellon University’s Biorobotics Lab says the purpose-built H-Series provides more versatility and torque while still withstanding rugged conditions. 

The H-Series is a fully-featured robotic component with an onboard IMU, current sensing, and over-temperature protection. These features allow it to be used in anything from wheeled robots to collaborative robot arms. The series has zero backlash and up to 140 Nm continuous torque.

Technical details behind HEBI’s H-Series Actuators

HEBI’s H-Series actuators can run on anything from 24V-48V DC and communicate using standard 100 Mbps Fiber-Optic Ethernet. This allows for easy, flexible integration with less downtime. 

The company sealed each H-Series actuator to IP65 and designed them with HEBI’s great modular flexibility, and has 10 times more power and more precise position control. The actuator is currently available in HEBI’s online store. 

“The H-Series is an exciting expansion of the HEBI ecosystem,” Bob Raida, CEO of HEBI Robotics, said. “HEBI’s long term vision is to create the next generation of robotic tools and put the power of robot development into the hands of every worker, whether they’re a technician, farmer, or anything else. In order to do that we are continuously expanding the capabilities and versatility of our platform. The H-Series is an important step in that direction.”

To make controlling the H-Series easy, HEBI Robotics provides cross-platform software tools. The tools come with features like live plotting, control from mobile devices like phone and tablets, and APIs for MATLAB, ROS, C/C++, and Python. 

HEBI Robotics showcased its Tready mobile platform and new H-Series Actuators at the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. | Credit: HEBI Robotics

Earlier this year, HEBI named Raida CEO and Dave Rollinson CTO. Howie Choset, who has been acting CEO, was named chairman of the board. HEBI said this change in leadership reflects its transition from providing technology to researchers to providing solutions to end-users.

Raida began working with HEBI Robotics in 2015, initially as an external business consultant. He became the first full-time employee of HEBI in 2016 as VP of business development. Since 2017 he has been serving as chief operating officer. 

Rollinson is a co-founder of HEBI Robotics and a key contributor to its modular robotics technology and vision. He studied under Choset at Carnegie Mellon University and received his Ph.D. while researching and developing the key technologies behind HEBI’s platform.