Objective
Fluid Wire Robotics (FWR), a 2024 spin-off from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, aims to industrialize and flight-qualify its Fluid Wire actuation system to deliver Europe’s first affordable, standardized manipulator for routine in-orbit servicing and in-space assembly. The DANTE proposal targets the core limitation of orbital infrastructure: more than 11,700 active satellites remain unserviceable, causing premature retirements, tens to hundreds of millions in replacement costs, and growing orbital debris. Current robotic systems are bespoke, expensive, and slow to deploy, leaving European SMEs and servicers without viable technology.
FWR eliminates the trade-off between performance and survivability by centralizing motors and electronics in a shielded Actuation Unit. Motion is transmitted through sealed Fluid-Wire conduits to a lightweight, passive arm. This design withstands radiation, vacuum, and temperature extremes while enabling precise motion, intrinsic force feedback, simpler integration, and reduced non-recurring costs. The result is a modular, multipurpose platform for inspection, docking, capture, refueling, and assembly. The technology is at TRL 6 and secured by three patents under exclusive license.
The DANTE proposal will deliver a space-grade engineering qualification model, complete environmental testing, and perform an in-orbit demonstration to secure flight heritage. On this basis, FWR will establish EU-based production of commercial flight models, expand integration and support capacity, and scale subsystem sales. The DANTE proposal aligns directly with the EIC programme on innovative in-orbit operations and resilient EU space infrastructure. FWR provides an affordable, interface-agnostic, robotic manipulator that enables inspection, repair, and upgrades, extending satellite lifetimes, reducing replacement expenditure and debris, and reinforcing European resilience and strategic autonomy in space.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering satellite technology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC-ACC - HORIZON EIC Accelerator
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
56123 Pisa
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.