Spanish SME seeks international R&D partners to test and integrate an Attitude Determination Control System into satellites under a Eurostars project

Summary

Profile Type

Research & Development Request

POD Reference

RDRES20240719020

Term of Validity

19 July 2024 - 19 July 2025

Company's Country

Spain

Type of partnership

Research and development cooperation agreement

Targeted Countries

All countries

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General information

Short Summary

A Spanish SME specialised in crafting patented Attitude Determination Control Systems (ADCS) based on Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) systems customised for satellite application is looking for international partners to submit a Eurostars project. The project aims at validating the efficacy of the ADCS technology and control board in real world orbital missions, for which the company needs satellite camera or communication operators or manufacturers interested in a joint proposal.

Full Description

Established in 2019, this Spanish SME is a pioneering force in aerospace technology. It focuses on developing and manufacturing Attitude and Determination Control Systems (ADCS). They are currently looking for Research & Development collaborators at the international level: satellite, camera or communication operators/manufacturers to submit a Eurostars to the september 12th 2024 call.

Current Attitude Control Systems (ACS) have a limited Torque/Weight ratio (Nm/kg), which restricts the operational range of a satellite's service capabilities. This limitation confines the satellite to a narrower range of applications and orbits. This limitation also requires the deployment of additional satellites to cover the desired terrain.

Single satellites currently in orbit have a potentially larger service range that remains untapped due to these limitations. This results in a significant opportunity cost, as the full potential of individual satellites is not being utilized, leading to potentially millions in lost revenue.

The company’s Attitude Control System (ACS) offers a higher torque/weight ratio compared to existing and forthcoming market proposals, enabling a wider range of applications due to enhanced maneuverability. This leads to reduced opportunity and operational costs, diminish the necessity to launch additional satellites, and ultimately decrease space debris.

Orientation Accuracy: it can quickly orient the satellite with a maximum precision of 0.0001 degrees in all 3 axes, enhancing communication capabilities and mapping coverage.

Spacecraft Agility: the satellite can rotate up to 130 degrees per second (3U). Each CMG can deliver the maximum angular momentum in less than 1 second in any plane perpendicular to the nutation axis.

Compact & Powerful: the whole ACS with 4 CMGs fits inside a 1U cube (0.097 x 0.097 x 0.097 m ) making it easy to integrate in small satellites with our linear patented configuration.

Effortless Integration: the ACS is built by modules that can be adapted and distributed to fit the customer’s requirements and diverse satellite sizes. The ACS comes with the software needed to control the satellite attitude.

Power Efficiency: unlike reaction wheels, the constant rotation of the inertia wheel ensures steady and efficient operation without unnecessary current peaks. Reduces battery size and power requirements by a factor of 3.

Company's ACS system enhances communication and observation. ACS agility can provide high-speed and stable orientation to various target locations worldwide. The coverage area can be increased as more significant and faster movements are possible. ACS provide the agility (130º/s) and accuracy (0.0001º) capabilities needed to quickly orient the cameras to the target locations and obtain much more information in a single pass than reaction wheels applicable to Multi-point Acquisition, Multi-strip Mapping, Stereo & Tri-stereo, Corridor Acquisition.

Advantages and Innovations

The Attitude Determination Control System (ADCS), based on its performance, can decrease the size of satellite constellations by enhancing the orientation agility of each satellite. The main advantages of this technology are:
- Orientation Accuracy: 0.0001-degree maximum precision in all 3 axes.
- Compact & Powerful: the whole Attitude Control System with 4 Control Moment Gyroscopes fits inside a 1U cube (0.097 x 0.097 x 0.097 m) making it easy to integrate in small satellites with our linear patented configuration.
- Effortless Integration: the Attitude Control System is built by modules that can be adapted and distributed to fit the customer’s requirements and diverse satellite sizes. It comes with the software needed to control the satellite attitude.
- Power Efficiency: as opposed to reaction wheels, the constant rotation of the inertia wheel ensures steady and efficient operation without unnecessary current peaks. It requires 3 times smaller battery size and power requirements.
- Modular Configurations: A) 4 CMG Volume of 0.097 x 0.097 x 0.097 m (<1 U) 1.50 kg, delivers enough angular momentum for satellites from 3 U up to 30 U. Distributed Momentum: 0.450 Nms. Distributed Torque 1.412 Nm. B) 2 CMGs + 2 RWs: Volume of CMGs 0.097 x 0.097 x 0.0485 m (<0.5 U), 0.750 kg., delivers enough angular momentum for satellites from 3 U up to 30 U. Torque: 0.706 Nm; Momentum: 0.225 Nms.

Technical Specification or Expertise Sought

The company actively seeks partners to submit a project proposal under the Eurostars call closing in September 12th 2024. They are looking for satellite, camera or communication operators or manufacturers from any European country interested in validating the efficacy of the ADCS technology and control board in real world orbital validation missions.

The collaboration aims to advance the company's ACS technology for micro-satellites and to conduct in-orbit validation missions. Partners will contribute to the future of satellite systems, enhancing their performance and precision.

Additionally, the Spanish SME seeks partners to scale up the technology to any size of satellite or spacecraft.

Stage of Development

Available for demonstration

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

IPR status

IPR granted

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner

The goal of the project is to conduct orbital validation missions, for which satellite, camera or communications operators and/or manufacturers at the EU level are needed.

The goal of the project is to validate the efficacy of the ACS technology and control board in real-world conditions, thus partners will actively participate in orbital validation missions. This entails coordinating the launch, deployment, and operation of satellites equipped with the integrated ACS. The partners will monitor and evaluate the technology's performance during these missions.

Type and Size of Partner

R&D Institution
University
SME 11-49
SME <=10
Big company
SME 50 - 249

Type of partnership

Research and development cooperation agreement

Call details

Framework program

Access to finance

Call title and identifier

Eurostars call for projects SEP 2024

Submission and evaluation scheme

Submit R&D and innovation project application between 12 July 2024 to 12 September 2024 at 14:00 CET (Brussels time) using myeurekaproject.org. The project consortium must have an innovative SME in the leading role but it can include other partners.

Anticipated project budget

1.2-2M€

Coordinator required

Deadline for EoI

12 Aug 2024

Deadline of the call