Rise Robotics a 'game changer' for flat belt drive systems

SOMERVILLE, Mass.—Rise Robotics is making limited licenses available for a patent that it says "unlocks new possibilities" for angular flat belt drive systems.

In a Feb. 6 press release, the company said its patent, "Normalizing Tension Distribution and Minimizing Sidewall Abrasion Within Angular Belt Drive Systems," or EP 3 652 466 B1, introduces new methodologies, systems and components to belt-based power transfer methods and systems.

"Rise was led by a belief that we would be able to invent and commercialize new components with new mechanical motions to enable never before possible machines to exist," said Arron Acosta, CEO and co-founder of Rise Robotics.

"Initially, we wanted a wearable sporting exosuit, the lower part of which we called catapult pants. Linear actuators such as hydraulics and screws were limiting the capabilities, so we developed new types of tensegrity-based linear actuators, ultimately proving that a belt-based block and tackle would have our desired speed, strength, weight, control, shock-tolerance and efficiency."

Acosta said the firm realized there were many industries with already existing machinery that would benefit from the Rise linear actuator.

"We discovered market fit by calling, exhibiting, demonstrating, meeting and collaborating," he said. "We are going to market with partners in commercial and defense with a focus on lifting vehicles."

Rise is offering limited licenses to the patent, which Acosta said will open doors to more robust and efficient angular flat belt drive systems.

"Companies that have designers of highly loaded belt systems can improve performance and efficiency with our belt drive system technology," he added.

The technology is in the testing phase with multiple companies across various industries. It offers the ability to implement twist geometries with ratios as aggressive as 7:1 with small reductions in service life compared to untwisted geometries; allows more compact design envelopes; and expands applications of angular flat belt drive systems.

The belted cylinder replaces hydraulic-based cylinders, which use fluids or electronics to operate. The belts are made of rubber-reinforced with steel wires and then covered in polyurethane. The firm said belts can have no twists, singular twists or multiple twists, and can either be encased in a cylinder with the power unit or the power unit can work remotely, such as inside a robot or a vehicle.

Rise offers push (compression), pull (tension) or a dual option where the cylinder can push and pull. The belt system can be custom-designed to accommodate various sizes. Push and pull rates can be designed to go as high as 22 metric tons or more.

Acosta said that today's modern steel-reinforced polyurethane flat belts are capable of operating at pulley interface pressures in excess of 1,400 PSI for millions of bending cycles.

"We don't know the upper limits yet. We have completed a push 22-ton and a pull 22-ton size and will next do a push/pull in the 22-ton size," he said. "We could do a system for mining or offshore industries in the 200-ton range. For smaller applications, the future could include working with new types of machines not yet designed, such as humanoids or wearables.

"... The cylinders are like the muscles of machines. Currently, we are focused primarily on making existing machines such as forklifts, mining machines and truck fleets better by making the muscles more productive and efficient."

Acosta added the company is completing an experimental arm for the U.S. Air Force. Part of the project's focus is having the arm get into position and then hold the position.

"The groundbreaking belt system is a fluid (or screws)-to-belt initiative. The steel-reinforced belts can do so much more, such as getting to alignment quickly with the enhanced precision," Acosta said.

Other features of the patent include addressing three dominant failure modes in straight flat belts subjected to fleet angles; providing methods for employing a flat belt in angular drives with twist ratios of 20:1 or less; introducing complementary fleet angles to extend service life dramatically; and employing thermal and pressure-sensitive methods to determine effective complementary fleet angles.

In addition to working with the U.S. Air Force, Rise currently is collaborating with commercial vehicle companies trying the technology on lift gates for trucks and other initiatives. The company is also looking at a range of industries for applications, including agriculture equipment, construction excavators, material handling and warehouse front-end loaders.

Acosta said that parties interested in adopting this cutting-edge technology can contact Rise Robotics at [email protected] for more information on licensing opportunities.

Rise Robotics has been in business since 2011 and has 20 employees, 13 of those engineers.