Peratech win Tech Brief Award from NASA

Peratech, an innovator in touch technology, has been presented with a Tech Brief Award by NASA in recognition for its contribution of QTC (Quantum Tunnelling Composite) technology used to provide fingertip sensitivity for Robonaut. This human-shaped robot with a metal torso has two arms with dextrous, human-like hands to give it the versatility to perform a wide variety of tasks in the challenging conditions of space. David Lussey, founder and CTO of North Yorkshire-based Peratech, said, "Robonaut was designed to be deployed in space missions. NASA chose our QTC technology for the robotic finger sensors, as it provided really sensitive feedback—as good as a human hand—and was tough enough to withstand the rigours of space. Our QTC sensors enabled the Robonaut to work out how hard it was gripping something and where the fingers were gripping it." QTC material is pressure sensitive and changes its electrical resistance when a force is applied. Tiny conductive particles within the composite material are brought closer together when a force is applied and this enables a current to flow because electrons leap from one particle to the next using the quantum tunnelling effect where no physical contact occurs between the particles. By adjusting formulation and manufacture of the QTC material, Preatech can make it with whatever level of responsiveness an application requires. Because there is no air gap within the sensor, it is not affected by being in the vacuum of space. The composite material was also carefully selected, so temperature changes did not cause it to swell and contract which would have created false readings. The sensors were designed with no start conductivity so that without pressure, the sensors draw no power and pass no current, which is very important as power is at a premium in space. "Because our switches are solid state and so robust, we are also supplying to the many other robot projects and major industrial partners for their next generation of products," added David Lussey. "There is nothing to wear out, no air gap that can be contaminated by dust or sand or liquids, so the MTBF is much greater than conventional alternatives—something that NASA appreciated as service calls in space are expensive." Peratech NASA Nasa's Robonaut videos deeplink