Robotics & advanced materials

European Symposium on Synergies between EU funding for Defence and Dual Use Research and

Innovation

3rd & 4th October 2018, Seville

Eng. Sandro Scattareggia Marchese (PhD)CEO

Signo Motus srl

Synergies in action

Case studies from the business world

Presentation summary

Company short presentation;

The path towards industrialization of the KET

Electro-Rheological Fluids (ERFs);

Business context of Signo Motus Vs the ERFs

KET;

Lesson learnt and Conclusions

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San Giuliano Terme, PisaICT & eHealth Dept.

MessinaHeadquartersEngineeringDept.

Signo Motus is a research intensive SMEfounded in 1994.The core business is the development ofinnovative robotics and ICT solutions for theindustrial and medical fields

Reference Markets: Industry Health Research Centres/UniversitiesKey Figures: 10 people (5 Senior researcher; 2

Junior Engineers; 2 Adm and 1Sale Manager Ave Age: 36

1.4 M€ Gross Income (GI)

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Who we are

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Core Business R&D: 60% GI

ICT

eHealth, Telemedicine and Home-Care

Robotics and Automation

Smart Materials

Inorganic Core

Organic coating

Transmission electron microscopy

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0,0 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0 5,0 6,0

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Electric Field [kV/mm]

R&D Projects

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Acronym Title Programme Duration

TREMORDevelopment and validation of new assistive devices fortreatment of disability caused by TREMOR

FP4 – IT 1996-2000

DRAMA Developments in Rehab of the Arm–A multimedia approach FP4 – IT 1998-2000

SPASMSupport Programme for Assembly of Database forSpasticity Measurement

FP5 2002-2004

H-CAD Home Care Activity Desk FP5 2001-2004

HelloDocHealthcare service linking telerehabilitation to disablepeople and clinicians

eTen 2005-2008

Body Extender

Exoskeleton to improve the load capabilities of the operator PNRM (Italian MoD) 2007-2010

CLEARClinical Leading Environment for the Assessment ofRehabilitation protocols in home care

CIP – ICT-PSP 2008-2012

RICHARDRegional ICT based Clusters for Healthcare Applicationsand R&D Integration

FP7 – RoK 2010-2013

IESS ICT platform for health and home care services FIT (Italian MoED) 2010-2015

ADHERE Advanced Development Held by Electro-Rheological Effect PNRM (Italian MoD) 2010-2016

ERXOSElectroRheological fluid based eXOSkeleton devices forphysical upper limb rehabilitation

H2020 – SMEInstr –Phase I

2016-2016

VITA NOVA

Vita Nova: an adaptive ICT service for cardiovascular andmetabolic risks reduction in premenopausal andmenopausal women

ESIF(PAR FAS 07/13 Tuscany)

2016-2018

DI-ASDDI-ASD: a technological support system for the diagnosisof Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

ESIF(POR FESR 14/20 Tuscany)

2015-2018

VERSUSVirtual-Reality Enhanced Rehabilitation for Sustainable andUsable Services

ESIF(POR FESR 14/20 Tuscany)

2017-2019

ElectroRheological Fluids are polar nanoparticles (inorganic or organic)dispersed in a non-conductive fluid (e.g. silicon oil). Such materialsdrastically change their rheological characteristics at the application of anelectric field (few kV/mm) passing from the liquid to a quasi-solid stateat a speed of some milliseconds (1 ÷10 ms).

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Advanced Materials - KET Electro‐Rheological Fluids (ERFs)

What ERFs are

•Italian Ministryof Defence

•2010-2016

•TRL2-TRL6

ADHERE Project

•H2020 – SME Instr. Phase 1

•2016

•TRL6

ERXOS Project

The path towards industrializationof the KET ElectroRheological Fluids (ERFs)

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The walked path: Technology Development and Business Initial Idea

PHASE I: analysis, synthesis and characterization of different ER Fluids(ERFs)

Inorganic Core

Organic coating

Transmission electron microscopy

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1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

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0,0 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0 5,0 6,0

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d St

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[kPa

]

Electric Field [kV/mm]

Main development and achieved results

The ADHERE Project (Italian MoD)

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PHASE II: Design and manufacturingof a purposely conceived ERFsrheometer and ERFs optimization

PHASE III: Design, manufacturing and

validation of a shock absorber based on

ERFs and related test-bench

This work has been supported by SEGREDIFESA of the Italian Ministry of Defence under the National

Military Research Plan R&T Project “ADHERE”

Inorganic Core

Organic coating

Transmission electron microscopy

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1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

0,0 1,0 2,0 3,0 4,0 5,0 6,0

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[kPa

]

Electric Field [kV/mm]

ERXOS is an exoskeleton device for upper limbsbased on Electro-rheological Fluids donned by theuser, providing a variable resistance on each singlejoint in relation to the arm position and the intentionof motion.

Main applications in the civil domain:Rehabilitation:

treatment of patients (e.g. stroke, MS, post-trauma);

Fitness: custom physical training for the arm.

Main development and achieved results

The ERXOS Project (H2020-SME Instr)

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• Italian Ministry ofDefence

•2010-2016

•TRL2-TRL6

ADHERE Project

•H2020 – SME Instr. Phase 1

•2016

•TRL6

ERXOS Project •H2020 – SME

Instr. Phase 2

•2017/2018

•Seal of Excellence

ERXOS Proposal

•ESIF PO FESR 14-20 Sicily Region

•2017/2018

•Under Evaluation

•TRL6-TRL9

ERXOS Proposal

The path towards industrializationof the KET ElectroRheological Fluids (ERFs)

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The walked path: Business Phase

IPR PROTECTION PLAN

Semi-active shock absorbers:increase of performances (e.g. adherence, comfort) and safety of vehicles in different operating conditions

Smart clutches/brakes:

increase of performances (e.g. applied torque/force) and device lifetime

Vehicular Domain

M1

M2

zr

zt

z

k2

k1 c1

El. Field OFF El. Field ON

Business Context & Key Applications for the Military & Civil sectors

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Vibration damping systems (Dual Use)

Vibration reduction for naval applications:increase of performances (e.g. noise reduction,comfort) and safety of structure & hull

Ballistic:

increase of performances (e.g. shot precision ontarget)

Business context & Key Applications for the Military & Civil sectors

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Increase of human capabilities and soldier training

Wearable Exoskeletons: Increase of load capabilities Increase of shot precision on target (snipers) Soldiers Personalized Physical training (e.g.

on camp target/ships)

Business context & Applications for the Military sectors

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ADHERE ProjectP.N.R.M.(Italian Ministry of Defence)Costs: about 1.5M€Funds: about 750k€

ERXOS ProjectH2020 SME-Inst-1Costs:71.5k€Funds: 50k€

ERXOS Proposal 2MEuroH2020 SME-Inst-2Seal of Excellence

Access to market related activities

R&D&I activitiesSupport to business development

Capacity buildingActivities

TRL scale

TechnologyDevelopment

Business Development

TRL 1

TRL 2

TRL 3

TRL 4

TRL 5

TRL 6

TRL 7

TRL 8

TRL 9

Knowledge Development

Capacity building

Funding 6

Overview of public (or semi public) support received by the company

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ESIF PO FESR 14-20 Sicily RegionProposal under evaluation 1.7 M€Inv. Rounds (Res.Inn.Fund EQUITER): Negotiations 1 M€

Lesson Learnt• Italian Military Research Plan (Military Domain)

o High improvement of the Company in terms of domain knowledge, quality procedures, additional operational requirements needed, Standard compliance

• H2020 SME Instrument:

o Phase I

Very Competitive Instrument

Fast reaction

Very useful and perfectly aligned with the Commission innovation policy

Coaching from the Commission Services

o Phase II

Very competitive instr. (4% success rate)

Difficulties in improving excellent proposals (ESR does not provide detailed elements)

Scale up of the company foreseen

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TRL6

TRL9

Synergies between ERFs, H2020, Dual use

• Difficulties in “timing” align RegionalInstruments despite the SoE

• No direct connection between policiesbecause of the subsidiary principle

Lesson Learnt

Some open points for discussion:

• Work is needed to create strong bridgesbetween H2020 and ESIF

• Coherence with Smart SpecializationStrategy

• A “fast track” for ESIFs combined to SMEinstrument to reach the same callfrequency

• Enhance capabilities of the regions onfast call procedures to accountobsolescence of technology

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Sandro Scattareggia MarcheseSigno Motus srl - Managing DirectorVia Panoramica 34098168 – Messina (ME)Tel: +39 (0)90 355645Tel: +39 (0)90 357028Fax: +39 (0)90 356913sandroscattareggia@signomotus.it

www.signomotus.it

Contacts

Thank you for the attention!

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