CX-033725: Artimus Robotics - Low-Cost Electronics for Pressure-Agnostic Actuators Driving Bio-inspired Vehicles for Deep Sea Mining

This Amended Determination follows the approval of additional funds, project tasks, and extended period of performance to finalize the development of inexpensive electronics for hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators, or artificial muscles, which enable ‘soft’ autonomous vehicles that can facilitate environmentally conscious mineral collection methods to access the deep ocean. Specifically, the project team will (1) further refine the HASEL actuators to meet additional precision performance standards; (2) test HASEL actuators for performance validation; (3) level-up HASEL actuators to achieve higher performance metrics; and (4) test and validate HASEL actuators in aquatic lab conditions to meet final prototype production standards. If successful, this project will result in HASEL-based actuator systems, which could reduce the cost of an unmanned underwater vehicle by 50x, enabling greater access to the billions of tons of critical minerals in polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor, along with other applications in the deep ocean, thereby increasing U.S. energy security.  Project activities will be conducted at existing facilities at Artimus Robotics (Boulder, CO) designed for the applicable activities.