Linear CAN Series linear actuation product

The Hitec Linear CAN Series is a family of CAN-controlled linear actuators from Hitec Commercial Solutions, an electromechanical actuator (EMA) line for uncrewed systems. The model described here is the HLS12-50210-CAN, which gives 50 mm of stroke with a 210:1 gear ratio and a 5 mm lead screw, and takes commands over CAN or DroneCAN.

The actuator turns a command into controlled linear movement for flight-control surfaces, latches, payload mechanisms and other push-pull tasks. The maker positions the 50 mm stroke and the 210:1 gearing for medium-stroke applications that need more force than the faster 50:50 and 50:100 variants. A 380 gear version is offered for higher force and the HLS12-30 and HLS12-100 series cover shorter and longer travel.

Key figures at 7.4 V: no-load speed is 7.5 mm/s at 130 mA. The maximum force point is 9.9 kg (96.89 N) at 2.8 mm/s and 490 mA, which tells the integrator what load the actuator holds while still moving. At the maximum efficiency point it lifts 4.4 kg (43.60 N) at 5.6 mm/s, and at the peak power point 7.7 kg (75.09 N) at 4.0 mm/s. Repeatability is plus or minus 0.3 mm and the maximum side load with the rod extended is 3.06 kgf (30 N), so the load path should stay axial.

The operating voltage range is 4.0 to 8.4 V. The motor is a cored metal brush type with a digital circuit, a metal gear train and an engineering plastic and aluminum pipe case. The body measures 102.0 x 15.0 x 18.0 mm and the minimum weight is 40 g, which suits small airframes where mass and space are limited.

Control is through CAN 2.0A/2.0B and DroneCAN (UAVCAN v0.0), so the actuator can share a bus with other nodes on a drone. Hitec publishes a servo actuator control protocol manual, a register header file, a configuration app and firmware. Programmable functions include end point adjustment, direction, fail safe, dead band, speed limiting, soft start rate, overload protection, data save and load, and program reset. Position holds when power is removed, and several mounting options are available.

Typical applications are uncrewed aircraft control linkages, robotics and industrial mechanisms where a compact digital bus actuator replaces a PWM servo and linkage.