Servo drives are small devices that have an output shaft, which can be positioned to specific angular positions by sending the servo a coded signal. Majority of modern servo drives maintain a controlled position of the arm or are responsible for cyclic rotation with variable speed. This principle of operation limits their functionalities and performance capabilities. Development of self-driving cars, autonomous vehicles, drones, advanced robotic manipulators, video camera stabilizers and other devices require servo drives that are able to react and imitate the force of a living being. Absence of such solution creates a market gap in these industries and stagnates revolution of autonomous devices.
My Research, a Lithuanian SME, developed a new type of a servo drive for remotely controlled devices to expand and improve servo drive application capabilities. The solution is called Force Servo – an innovative servo drive, which value of the force is proportional to control signal and does not depend on the position of the arm, while the force is controlled with a force sensor. Unique patented design of Force Servo is more powerful, compact and energy efficient than other servo drives, allows simplifying mechanism and is able to replicate outside force. Force Servo will support robotics, bionics, and video production industries enabling development of state-of-the-art technologies that will contribute to solving important societal and economic issues, such as ageing societies and unemployment.
The main objective of the application for the SME Instrument Phase 1 was to develop a feasibility study for the commercialization of My Research Force servo drive. To reach this goal, a set of sub-objectives has been developed, which are as follows: 1) to perform servo drives and camera stabilizers market research; 2) to conduct user needs analysis; 3) to develop a plan for product redesign; 4) to perform IPR strategy; 5) to develop and elaborate business model including detailed business plan.
