A disruptive new start-up emerging from Spoke 1’s IDRA Proof of Concept
The objectives of NODES and Spoke 1 focus on providing maximum support for strengthening and creating new innovative entrepreneurial ventures in their key sectors, Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility. Thanks to Spoke 1 funding, some ventures are ready to take the next step in their technological development, moving toward the market with significant impact potential.
Among the Proof of Concept funded by Spoke 1, the IDRA project, launched in December 2023 based on the first developments of the technology of the same name—already the winner of the Intellectual Property Award 2023—has made significant progress. The team, composed of researchers from Politecnico di Torino, has just founded a new start-up: DEPLOTIC, a Politecnico di Torino spin-off that will continue its development.
IDRA is an inflatable robotic manipulator designed to operate in complex and inhospitable environments, such as space, while taking up minimal space on satellites and space stations. The technology will enable “on-demand” inspection and maintenance operations that can help extend the lifespan of large satellites.
IDRA can replace more traditional manipulators with rigid links. The research team revolutionizes the approach by developing compressible links connected by electrically actuated rigid joints, while maintaining a conventional control method based on vision systems. The result is a simple-to-manage system that is significantly less bulky—about 60% smaller—and more cost-effective.
The technology is extremely promising because a single link extends up to four times when the system is deployed. This means that, with the same footprint as a conventional manipulator, IDRA has a significantly greater effective reach and can achieve a size capable of reaching every part of a satellite. Each link can be made up of a variable number of connected chambers, offering a wide range of alternative configurations that can be tested depending on mission requirements.
Thanks in part to its “digital twin,” the robotic system is continuously tested to handle the microgravity environment and other typical space conditions, such as vacuum and extreme temperatures. During 2025, the team will update the prototype using higher-quality materials to further enhance its resistance to harsh space conditions, building on its already impressive results.
The multi-award-winning start-up Deplotic recently also won the 2024 National Innovation Award in the Industrial category. It has also entered Silicon Valley, selected by INNOVIT for a dedicated acceleration program, further advancing its path toward new achievements and milestones.