Underwater Servo SER-202X Brushless, Multi-turn

Blue Trail Engineering’s Underwater Servos are compact, robust actuators for small marine robotic applications at depths of up to 400 meters. They consist of an off-the-shelf R/C servo installed in a machined enclosure with a titanium output shaft and waterproof connector. 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, all at a fraction of the cost of other subsea actuators.

 

We offer four models of Underwater Servos, each available with an all-acetal enclosure rated to 200 meters depth or a combination acetal/anodized aluminum enclosure rated to 400 meters depth.

 

• 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.

 

All of the above servos are fully assembled and pressure-tested before shipping. 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 (200m) and SER-2001 (400m), kit options that allows 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 kits come 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) and have a 25-tooth spline.  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. You have the option to install a Cobalt bulkhead connector, a Cobalt cable with M10 penetrator, or a Blue Robotics WetLink penetrator (not included).

 

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 servo 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.