Eng. Sandro Scattareggia Marchese (PhD) – CEO Signo Motus srl

39th CapTech Materials & Structures Meeting – EDA, Brussels (BE) 14-15 February 2018

The potential of the KET "Electro‐Rheological Fluids" for Military Applications

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Presentation Summary

Introduction on KET Electro‐Rheological Fluids

Main development and achieved results

Key Applications for the Military Sector

Roadmap and Conclusions

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Signo Motus: Who we are

Core Business R&D:

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

Yiel

d S

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s [k

Pa]

Electric Field [kV/mm]

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Introduction on KET Electro‐Rheological Fluids

ElectroRheological Fluids are polar nanoparticles (inorganic or organic) dispersed

in a non-conductive fluid (e.g. silicon oil). Such materials drastically change their

rheological characteristics at the application of an electric field (few kV/mm) passing

from the liquid to a quasi-solid state at a speed of some milliseconds (1 ÷10 ms).

What ERFs are

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Introduction on KET Electro‐Rheological Fluids

Principle of Operation

upper plate

lower plate

upper plate

lower plate

upper plate

lower plate

Semi-active devices

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Introduction on KET Electro‐Rheological Fluids

Competing technologies:

Innovative electro-mechanical actuators

Magneto-rheological fluids

Electro-rheological fluids

Context information

Keys: response time, controllability, fault management, reliability, costs, weight & size

Worldwide development on ERFs & MRFs:

USA: MRFs leader with different applications in the military domains

Asia: ERFs leader (research claims – not applications)

Europe: MRFs/ERFs running development

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Main development and achieved results

Programme: National Military Research Plan (P.N.R.M.)

Start/End date: December 2010 / February 2016

Objective: development and validation of a rotational

electromechanical device (based on smart materials) for

vehicular and / or ballistic applications in the military field

This work has been supported by SEGREDIFESA of the Italian Ministry of

Defence under the National Military Research Plan R&T Project “ADHERE”

The Project ADHERE

Advanced Development Held by Electro-Rheological Effect

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Main development and achieved results

Theoretical analysis, synthesis and physical-chemical

characterization of different ER Fluids (ERFs)

Identification of ERFs suitable for the purpose and process

optimization

The Project ADHERE – PHASE I

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

Yiel

d S

tres

s [k

Pa]

Electric Field [kV/mm]

www.eda.europa.eu9

Main development and achieved results

Design and manufacturing

of a purposely conceived

ERFs rheometer

Validation of ERFs

rheometer as measurement

system

Electromechanical

characterization of ERFs

Optimization of ERFs on the

base of the results obtained

Analysis of military

applications at the operative

centres of the Italian MoD

(CEPOLISPE – UTT-

NETTUNO)

The Project ADHERE – PHASE II

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Main development and achieved results

Design, manufacturing and validation

of a prototype of electromechanical

shock absorber based on ERFs for

vehicular applications

The Project ADHERE – PHASE III

Design, manufacturing and validation

of a test-bench to characterize and

validate rotational and linear ERFs

electromechanical devices

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Main development and achieved results

Yield stress (static performances):

values up to an order of magnitude higher w.r.t. state of the art

Shear stress (dynamic performances):

values up to 2 times higher w.r.t. state of the art

Current Density (power consumption):

values up to 6 times lower w.r.t. state of the art

The Project ADHERE – Main Results on ERFs

Maximum

Yield Stress

[kPa]

Maximum

Shear Stress

[kPa]

Maximum

Current Density

[μA/cm2]

ADHERE ERF (low concentration) 0,515 0,415 3,19

ADHERE ERF (medium concentration) 6,125 3,971 8,59

ADHERE ERF (high concentration) 15,076 8,346 10,36

State of the Art 1,610 4,122 58,43

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Main development and achieved results

Mechanical power increase due to ER effect: 500 W (max)

Power consumption: 1 W (max)

Full correspondence with theoretical models

No significant changes due to continuous use of the ERF based

device (48 hours - 144.000 cycles)

The Project ADHERE – Main Results on ERFs based devices

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Main development and achieved results

Programme: H2020 – SME Instrument (PHASE I)

Topic: NMP-25-2015-1 “Accelerating the uptake of

nanotechnologies, advanced materials or advanced

manufacturing and processing technologies by SMEs”

Start/End date: April 2016 / September 2016

Objective: to demonstrate technical/economical feasibility

of ERFs based low-cost upper limb exoskeleton devices to

address the rehabilitation and fitness markets

The Project ERXOSElectroRheological fluid based eXOSkeleton devices for physical upper limb rehabilitation

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Main development and achieved results

ERXOS is an exoskeleton device for upper limbs based on Electro-

rheological Fluids donned by the user, providing a variable resistance on

each single joint in relation to the arm position and the intention of motion.

The Project ERXOS

Main applications in the civil domain:

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

Fitness: custom physical training for the arm.

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Key Applications for the Military sector

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

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Key Applications for the Military sector

Vibration damping systems

Vibration reduction for naval application:

increase of performances (e.g. noise reduction,

comfort) and safety of structure & hull

Ballistic:

increase of performances (e.g. shot precision on

target)

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Key Applications for the Military sector

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)

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Roadmap and Conclusions

Domain ERFs Exoskeletons Shock Absorbers

Foreseen

Actions

Production process

scale-up and

industrial validation

Prototyping and

validation of

physical training/

rehabilitation

devices

Test and validation

in operating

environment

(2-axis vehicle)

Objectives

Adequate batch

production and

reliable process

Ready-to-market

devices

Ready-to-market

devices

Timing 2020 2020 2019

Estimated

investments≈ 2 M€ ≈ 2 M€ ≈ 0.5 M€

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Roadmap and Conclusions

Strategic investment for the Company

Wide military potential applications in different domains

Co-funding expected for R&D through: H2020, ESF

(Dual Use), FTI, international cooperation

Strategic partnership alliances

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Sandro Scattareggia Marchese

Signo Motus srl - Managing Director

Via Panoramica 340

98168 – Messina (ME)

Tel: +39 (0)90 355645

Tel: +39 (0)90 357028

Fax: +39 (0)90 356913

sandroscattareggia@signomotus.it

www.signomotus.it

Contacts

Thanks!