System configuration
● Miniature linear actuator
Key features and benefits
Precise opening and closing to ensure zero errors in fire suppressant discharge
The opening and closing of the water bucket's bottom directly affect the timing and location of fire suppressant discharge. When the actuator extends, the bottom of the bucket opens, releasing the fire suppressant instantly; when the actuator retracts, the bottom of the bucket closes, ensuring a complete seal during water filling or transportation. Our linear actuators provide precise stroke control and extremely high repeatability, ensuring that every opening and closing is executed with pinpoint accuracy, guaranteeing that the fire suppressant is discharged at the right time and in the right place.
Millisecond-level response to seize the golden window for fire suppression
Every second counts during firefighting. Our miniature linear actuators feature extremely fast response times, with minimal delay between the flight control system issuing a discharge command and the bucket bottom fully opening. Whether for precision targeting in high-rise building fires or wide-area coverage in wildfires, the actuator completes the opening and closing actions in the shortest possible time, helping firefighting UAVs seize the golden window for fire suppression.
Compact and lightweight, without adding to the UAV's flight load
Firefighting UAVs have limited payload capacity, and every gram of weight affects flight endurance and maneuverability. Our miniature linear actuators are known for their ultra-lightweight design; while ensuring sufficient thrust and stroke, they minimize their own weight to reduce the impact on UAV flight performance as much as possible. Their compact design allows them to be easily integrated into the limited space at the bottom of the water bucket.
High protection rating to withstand corrosion from water and fire suppressants
Firefighting water buckets are constantly exposed to a humid environment during filling, transport, and discharge, and the bucket bottom comes into direct contact with water and various fire suppressants (such as foam and dry powder). Our miniature actuators feature a high protection rating, providing full resistance to corrosion from water, foam, chemical fire suppressants, and other substances. Constructed from corrosion-resistant materials and featuring a fully sealed design, they ensure stable and reliable performance even during prolonged exposure to water and fire suppressants.
Impact-resistant design to handle the impact of water gravity with ease
When fully loaded, a water bucket can weigh tens of kilograms; the sudden release of water's gravitational force upon opening the bottom exerts a massive impact on the bottom locking mechanism. Our linear actuators feature a high-strength transmission structure and a robust housing design, providing excellent impact resistance. They can withstand the violent impact caused by the weight of the water at the moment the bottom opens, ensuring reliable operation even under extreme conditions.
Long service life and maintenance-free operation to reduce operating costs
Firefighting UAVs often need to remain on standby around the clock, and frequent maintenance can compromise their availability. Our linear actuators feature a maintenance-free design that requires no periodic lubrication or replacement of wear-prone parts, ensuring the water bucket is always ready for deployment.
Built-in Hall sensors enable precise control for customers
Our actuators feature built-in Hall sensors that provide real-time feedback on stroke position and operational status via pulse signals. This allows the customer's control system to precisely monitor the open or closed status of the water bucket's bottom, enabling accurate closed-loop control. The real-time feedback from the Hall sensors provides the flight control system with precise execution data for deployment decisions—from confirming the seal after water filling to verifying return to position after deployment, every step is executed with precision under closed-loop control.
Low-temperature design for confident operation in high-altitude, cold environments
When firefighting UAVs carry out missions at high altitudes, the ambient temperature is significantly lower than at ground level. Our miniature electric linear actuators utilize low-temperature-resistant materials and special lubrication processes to maintain stable mechanical and electrical performance even in cold environments, ensuring reliable opening and closing of the water bucket's bottom during high-altitude firefighting operations.
Richmat's engineers provide end-to-end technical support—from needs assessment and solution design to product delivery—safeguarding every moment of firefighting and rescue operations with our reliable miniature linear drive systems.
