Electropermanent Payload Attachment Magnet for UAVs Released

Zubax Robotics has released a new product: the FluxGrip FG40, a highly efficient solid-state solution for payload attachment in commercial and military drones.

Zubax Robotics researches and develops advanced hardware and software for the world’s leading drone manufacturers, understanding that a large number of civilian and defence applications require a reliable way of attaching a payload to the vehicle.

These include scenarios such as quickly switching between modular cameras for day and night vision, securely handling payloads for precision strikes, or carrying items in the rapidly growing field of drone delivery. Current solutions rely on electromechanical locks which tend to be complex, fragile, and expensive: a typical model will contain dozens of fine moving parts.

The  FluxGrip FG40 is Zubax Robotics’ newly developed alternative. The product is a strong electropermanent magnet that is entirely solid-state, without any moving parts in its construction. Thus, it removes common failure points associated with mechanical systems caused by vibration, wear, and material fatigue and reduces maintenance costs. 

The device is fully sealed with a heavy-duty polymer that provides outstanding mechanical strength and resilience to adverse environments, including seawater, commonly occurring salts and acids, vibration, extreme temperatures, and dust.

FG40 consumes zero power in a steady state — energy is only required to transition between the on-state (payload is attached) and the off-state (payload is released); this makes FG40 robust against power brownouts. In fact, the power supply can be cut completely to conserve energy, even though the idle power consumption is minuscule.

FG40 weighs only 70 grams and holds up to 250 newtons (25 kilogram-forces), carrying over 350 times its own weight. This is comparable to ordinary electromechanical solutions with none of their disadvantages. Further, multiple FG40s can operate in lockstep side-by-side, increasing the total holding force or providing redundancy for safety-critical systems.

FG40 is a high-quality product engineered with uncompromising attention to quality in both software and hardware. It is built with AEC-Q-qualified components that meet the stringent safety and reliability standards of the automotive industry. Each manufactured unit undergoes a rigorous automatic testing procedure. Traceability reports are available for customers seeking functional safety certification.

Zubax Robotics is already working to expand its portfolio of magnetic payload attachment systems with new models, addressing both the segments where cost is critical and the more demanding applications where a holding force of hundreds of kilogram-forces is required.

Pavel Kirienko, CEO of Zubax Robotics, commented, “FluxGrip represents a shift towards mechanically simpler solutions. Much like SSDs have replaced HDDs, phased array antennas replaced gimbaled ones, and electric motors are replacing internal combustion engines, FluxGrip is set to obsolete electromechanical locks in drones and robotics.”