Robot takes advantage of space and weight saving bearings

This dexterity allows the vehicle to be used in confined, hard-to-access spaces and an important element in the design is the use of space and weight saving Kaydon Reali-Slim bearings supplied by R A Rodriguez in the UK.

These bearings were specified on all joints and axes on the manipulator arm of this six-wheeled unmanned ground vehicle. Seven different sizes were used, ranging in diameters from 60mm to 250mm and their performance is of critical importance for many reasons. Vehicle weight, compactness, cost, payload, reach requirements, positioning repeatability and responsiveness are all directly affected by bearing selection.

Aside from their space and weight saving potential, high stiffness and the large internal diameter to accommodate electrical and other services are important features of these bearings. Moreover, the Kaydon Reali-Slim thin section angular and radial contact bearings used in this application can accept combinations of radial, thrust and moment loads. Essentially, they have a radial cross section that remains constant as the bore diameter increases, and are considerably lighter in weight than bearings with conventional cross sections.

Indeed, weight saving was one of the factors behind Northrop Grumman’s bearing choice.  The company also benefited from the specialist engineering support that supplier R A Rodriguez was able to provide, including advice on correct bearing selection and set-up for the required rigidity, load capacity and low friction movement.

Cutlass was designed and developed by Northrop Grumman for the Ministry of Defence and was brought into service with the British Army in 2012. It is now available for sale to international customers.