NASA is Developing Bulk Metallic Glass Gears for Precision Robotics
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is aiming to bypass the limitations of existing steel gears by creating gears from bulk metallic glass (BMG) in Pasadena, CA. Douglas Hofmann (technologist) and his collaborators specially crafted an alloy with properties that make BMGs ideal for robotics.
Gears play an essential role in precision robotics as they allow limbs to turn smoothly and function on commands, which is not possible with low-quality gears as they cause limbs to jerk or shake.
The Bulk Metallic Glass Gear (BMGG) project by NASA is making technological advancements in the field of BMGs so that they can act as the building blocks for mission vehicles to explore destinations throughout the solar system and visit places like Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Such locations have an extreme environment in terms of temperature, probably estimated below -238 degree Fahrenheit (°F), i.e., -150 degree Celsius (°C).
To cope with such a temperature, researchers are developing special gearboxes that are designed to operate in extreme environments.
What is a bulk metallic glass gearbox?
Bulk metallic glass is utilized in applications such as consumer electronics and wearables, biomedical, sporting equipment, and aerospace/defense. NASA is developing bulk metallic glass gearboxes that are technologically advanced and can operate in extreme temperatures.
A gearbox is a mechanical unit that comprises integrated gears within a housing or casing that requires a source of heating and lubrication to prevent the gears from breaking or snapping.
Additionally, ongoing research to develop bulk metallic glass gear has led to a surge in demand for bulk metallic glass. Countries like the U.S. are focused on developing special gearboxes that can operate in harsh environments, owing to their unique mechanical properties.
According to BIS Research, the global bulk metallic glass market is projected to reach $246.3 million by 2031 from $47.6 million in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 17.9% during the forecast period 2022–2031.
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The growth in the bulk metallic glass market is expected to be driven by the increasing usage from supporting industries such as electrical, electronics, and sports.
What makes these BMGG beneficial for space?
Bulk metallic glasses are fundamentally different from traditional amorphous alloys, which are often formed at very high cooling rates to suppress the nucleation of crystalline phases.
Bulk metallic glasses are designed at nominal critical cooling rates. The high cooling rates required for the formation of conventional glassy alloys limit the range of possible structures that can be prepared into powder, ribbons, and films.
Combined with greater wear and corrosion resistance, these gearboxes are developed with bulk metallic glass technology, which makes them capable of operating at surface temperatures of -173 °C (-280 °F) and are made up of promising gearbox component materials for longer durability.
Not only do these BMGs allow gears to perform at low temperatures, but they are also manufactured at a fraction of the cost compared to their steel versions without any sacrifice on their performance. This is potentially a great initiative for reducing the cost of robots that use strain wave gears, as it is the most expensive part of bulk metallic glasses.
This bulk metallic glass gears project funded by NASA is a game-changing development program to revolutionize future space endeavors, which helps to investigate ideas and approaches that could solve significant technological problems in precision robotics.
What are the recent developments in the bulk metallic glass market?
Growth in the bulk metallic glass (BMG) market is being driven by the rise in demand for biomaterials applications, increasing use from supporting industries, and ongoing research in the area of 3D printing of amorphous metals.
Heraeus AMLOY, together with the University of Graz, in January 2021, started working on the development of the implants from the 3D printer. These 3D-manufactured amorphous implants are biocompatible and can individually adapt to the patient’s physique.
Moreover, Liquidmetal Technologies, Inc., through its majority-owned subsidiary, Liquidmetal Golf, in January 2022, entered into a sub-license agreement with Amorphous Technologies Japan Inc. (ATJ), a newly formed Japanese entity established by Twins Corporation.
Conclusion
Bulk metallic glass gears exhibit the excellent glass-forming ability and can attain thicknesses of more than 1 mm. The high strength, stiffness, and elasticity altogether make it the protagonist of industrial innovation.
For military and future space applications, bulk metallic glass is expected to be the upcoming disruptive material. NASA is working closely to develop bulk metallic glass gears for future in-space demonstration opportunities and mission use and develop a supply chain for the bulk metallic glass alloys.
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