Underwater Servo Kit SER-200X

Blue Trail Engineering’s SER-2XXX underwater servos are compact, robust actuators for small marine robotic applications, rated to 200 meters depth with acetal upper and lower case or 400 meters depth with acetal upper case and anodized aluminum lower case.  They consist of an off-the-shelf R/C servo installed in a machined enclosure with a titanium output shaft and waterproof connector.  By using off-the-shelf R/C servos, this architecture leverages decades of servo development in the R/C industry to provide extremely high reliability as well as almost limitless options for speed, torque, travel distance, and other features.

 

The SER-2XXX series currently includes four models:

• The SER-2010 (200m) and SER-2011 (400m) feature the Hitec D954SW R/C servo. This is our least expensive model, producing 2.8 Nm of torque with a brushed motor.
• The SER-2020 (200m) and SER-2021 (400m) feature the Hitec HSR-M9382TH. This servo produces 3.3 Nm of torque and offers an extended travel range (up to ± 3.5 full turns of rotation with position control or continuous rotation with speed control). It uses a brushless motor and magnetic encoder, eliminating the most common causes of servo failure.
• The SER-2030 (200m) and SER-2031 (400m) feature the DB961WP servo, which produces 5.4 Nm of torque and uses a brushless motor.
• The SER-2130 (200m) and SER-2131 (400m) feature the MDB961WP-CAN servo, which produces 5.9 Nm of torque. It also uses a brushless motor and magnetic encoder, eliminating the most common causes of servo failure.

 

These servos are fully tested prior to shipping and have many programmable features, including travel range. If you require increased travel or any other changes to the servo's programmable parameters, we will happily program the servo per your specifications for free. Simply email sales@bluetrailengineering.com after placing your order. Alternatively, you may program the servos using the appropriate programmer.

 

We also offer the SER-2000 and SER-2001, kit options that allow users to select and install their own standard-sized R/C servo – including PWM, CAN, or serial servos – making this the most inexpensive and flexible option for underwater actuation. The kit comes with the output shaft, bearings, and seal installed, and the user completes assembly with the servo and connector of their choice.  Servos must be of the “standard” size (20-mm width), they must have a 25-tooth spline, and they must have the proper height.  The following servos have been tested for proper fit:

• Hitec D625MW, D645MW, D930SW, D940TW, D945TW, D950TW, D954SW, D955TW, DB961WP, MDB961WP-CAN, HSB-9360TH, HSB-9370TH, HSB-9380TH, HSB-9465SH, HSB-9475SH, HSB-9485SH, HSR-M9382TH
• GoBilda (all models)

If you would like to use a different servo, please contact Blue Trail Engineering and we will help you determine if your servo will fit.

 

Output shaft is a 6-mm titanium D-shaft.  Titanium Servo Hub available separately.

 

You will need a regular Cobalt 3-pin cable (NOT a 3-pin Power cable) or Cobalt 4-pin cable (depending on the model) to connect to these servos.

 

WARNING:  These servos do not have internal protection against overheating or overvoltage.  They can be damaged or destroyed by:

• driving the servo against a hard stop for more than 5-10 seconds
• running the servo at high torque continuously
• applying more than the recommended voltage to the servo

Users should design their electrical and mechanical systems to avoid these scenarios.