TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Reversible Androgynous Mechanical Fastener (TOP2-310)
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NASA is offering a licensing opportunity for a reversible androgynous mechanical fastener developed at NASA Ames Research Center, designated TOP2-310, designed for robotic assembly of large, reconfigurable structures such as lunar habitats and terrestrial systems. The fastener features high misalignment tolerance, mimicking the alignment principles of the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism, enabling robust, automated assembly with relaxed positioning requirements for robotic end effectors. It provides a lightweight, high-strength, reversible mechanical connection suitable for lattice structures and applications requiring frequent reconfiguration or replacement of joints, eliminating many drawbacks of conventional fasteners. Licensing may be granted on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, potentially with defined fields of use, but NASA will not provide any funding in association with these licenses. Companies interested must submit a formal application through NASA’s ATLAS system by the deadline of August 10, 2027, and all submissions are solely for market research and licensing interest purposes, with no expectation of follow-on procurement. This opportunity is managed by NASA’s Technology Transfer Program, with inquiries directed to the designated email address, and the technology is associated with the Marshall Space Flight Center as the contracting office.
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NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.
THE TECHNOLOGY:
Researchers at NASA Ames Research Center have developed an androgynous fastener with high misalignment tolerance characteristics, which is suitable for robotic actuation. This fastener was developed in conjunction with a high-performance building-block structural system that can be robotically assembled by robust collective automated assembly into large, reconfigurable structures ranging from assembly of lunar habitats to terrestrial structures. The fastener mechanisms employ alignment principles similar to the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM) in order to relax the positioning requirements of the assembly robots. This novel androgynous fastener provides the desired performance required for robotic assembly of the structural systems and also minimizes or eliminates the problems and disadvantages associated with conventional or traditional fasteners.
The androgynous fastener is lightweight and facilitates assembly through simple actuation with large driver-positioning tolerance requirements. This fastener provides a high-strength, reversible mechanical connection and may be used in high strength-to-weight ratio structural systems, such as lattice structure systems. It is beneficial in any application where robotic end effectors are used to join structural components (or other parts) together. It may be particularly desirable for applications requiring frequent movement of hardware to an assembly site to replace joint connections.
To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/TOP2-310
If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/
These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.
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