NASA has selected Tethers Unlimited of Bothell, Wash., for four Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I awards for the development technologies for nano-sat launch vehicles, small satellites, robotic surface explorers, and space manufacturing.? The company also has been selected for an Air Force SBIR Phase II award for a CubeSat radio system.
The four NASA proposals include:
- SWIFT-nanoLV Avionics Platform (Nano/Micro Satellite Launch Vehicle Technology)
- SWIFT-HPX ? High Data Rate Ka-band Communications for Small Satellites (Game Changing Technologies)
- SPIDER ? Sensing and Positioning on Inclines and Deep Environments with Retrieval (Robotic Mobility, Manipulation and Sampling)
- TRUSSELATOR ? On-Orbit Fabrication of High Performance Support Structures for Solar Arrays (Expandable/Deployable Structures).
Tethers Unlimited also reports on its website that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has selected the company for a SBIR Phase II award ?to develop a software-defined radio system to enable CubeSats to communicate with the Air Force Satellite Control Network. The SWIFT-AFSCN radio will provide SGLS L-band reception and both reception and transmission of USB S-band signals.?
Full summaries of the NASA proposals follow. I have not been able to find a summary for the Air Force award.
PROPOSAL SUMMARY
Award: SBIR Phase I
Maximum Potential Value: $125,000
PROPOSAL TITLE:? SWIFT-nanoLV Avionics Platform
SUBTOPIC TITLE: Nano/Micro Satellite Launch Vehicle Technology
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN
Tethers Unlimited
Bothell, WA
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER
Nestor Voronka
Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 3
End: 5
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT
With the increased demand for and utility of nano- and micro-satellites, the demand for responsive, low-cost access to space has also increased. To meet this demand, multiple private companies are pursuing the development of nano- and micro-launch vehicles (NMLV). However, NMLV builders lack suitable avionics platforms for both development and operational needs. Traditional launch vehicle avionics platforms exceed the SWaP requirements of an NMLV due to their use of redundant, aerospace grade components. To service the needs of NMLV builders, TUI proposes to develop the SWIFT-nanoLV avionics platFORM By leveraging its existing portfolio of SWIFT software-defined radios and other small satellite component technologies. Through the careful use of COTS components, modular design techniques, and software-defined architectures, the SWIFT-nanoLV avionics platform will not only meet the SWaP requirements of an NMLV, but will also help minimize the operating costs of NMLVs. After developing a concept design and testing brassboard prototypes in the Phase I effort, TUI will build and test a fully functional avionics platform in the Phase II effort.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The SWIFT-nanoLV avionics platform will provide nano/micro launch vehicle builders with a robust, flexible, and lightweight solution for the entire life cycle of a launch vehicle, from development to operations. NASA?s goal is to increase commercial access to space for low-cost, responsive missions. The primary commercial application for the proposed technology is its use as an avionics package for these launch vehicles. In addition to launch vehicles, the proposed technology is well suited for use as a high-performance bus for small satellites, including CubeSats. The tight integration of a flight computer, INS/GPS, and TT&C transceiver in a modular, SWaP efficient package means the proposed technology can be utilized in a wide variety of mission profiles. Because of their low cost, there is an increasing interest at NASA in the use of small satellites.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
A number of government agencies within the DoD and private companies are pursuing the use of small satellites for a variety of missions. The availability of low-cost, responsive nano/micro launch vehicles will increase the ability for these agencies to field those missions. A modular avionics platform that is specifically designed for these launch vehicles will decrease both development and operating costs. Additionally, the proposed SWIFT-nanoLV avionics package is ideal for use as a flexible, high-performance small satellite bus. The tight integration of a flight computer, INS/GPS, and TT&C transceiver in a modular, SWaP efficient package means the proposed technology can be utilized in a wide variety of mission profiles.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING
- Algorithms/Control Software & Systems (see also Autonomous Systems)
- Amplifiers/Repeaters/Translators
- Architecture/Framework/Protocols
- Attitude Determination & Control
- Autonomous Control (see also Control & Monitoring)
- Avionics (see also Control and Monitoring)
- Circuits (including ICs; for specific applications, see e.g., Communications, Networking & Signal Transport; Control & Monitoring, Sensors)
- Command & Control
- Diagnostics/Prognostics
- Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing
- Inertial
- Inertial (see also Sensors)
- Intelligence
- Models & Simulations (see also Testing & Evaluation)
- Network Integration
- Positioning (Attitude Determination, Location X-Y-Z)
- Prototyping
- Quality/Reliability
- Ranging/Tracking
- Recovery (see also Autonomous Systems)
- Recovery (see also Vehicle Health Management)
- Sequencing & Scheduling
- Simulation & Modeling
- Software Tools (Analysis, Design)
- Telemetry (see also Control & Monitoring)
- Telemetry/Tracking (Cooperative/Noncooperative; see also Planetary Navigation, Tracking, & Telemetry)
- Transmitters/Receivers
PROPOSAL SUMMARY
Award: SBIR Select Phase I
Maximum Potential Value: $200,000
PROPOSAL TITLE:? SWIFT-HPX ? High Data Rate Ka-band Communications for Small Satellites
SUBTOPIC TITLE: Game Changing Technologies
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN
Tethers Unlimited
Bothell, WA
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER
Nestor Voronka
Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 2
End: 4
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT
Leveraging TUI?s SWIFT software defined radio (SDR) architecture, we propose to develop a 100 Mbps downlink and intersatellite crosslink capability with ranging and timing synchronization capabilities to enable more sophisticated CubeSat and small satellite missions. This effort will focus on designing a Ka-band communications solution including a high-gain patch antenna array and Ka-band RF front end, that can be integrated with TUI?s SWIFT software defined radio (SDR) processor running state-of-the art modulation and coding techniques to provide a robust link with adaptive data rates up to 100Mbps. Analyses indicate that a 100 Mbps crosslink can be closed between two CubeSats separated up to 100 kilometers and between a CubeSat in low-Earth orbit and a 12 meter dish (99% link availability with the ITU-P618 rain model) with the same radio. These links represent nearly two orders of magnitude of data throughput improvement over the rates achieved by CubeSat missions to date. This increased downlink and crosslink data rate will enable nanosatellites and CubeSat constellations to be used for scientific, commercial and operationally relevant remote sensing and earth observation missions. Adaptive modulation and coding makes the link more robust and allows for reduced data rate operations without increasing aperture sizes at greater distances (e.g. Lunar and Martian). The proposed SWIFT-HPX radio technology and resultant product supports the migration of small satellite and CubeSat near-Earth communication downlinks and crosslinks to higher frequency links, which is consistent with Phase 1-3 of NASA?S Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) Program.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
This SWIFT-HPX radio technology and resultant product supports the migration of small satellite and CubeSat near-Earth communication downlinks and intersatellite crosslinks to higher frequency links, which is consistent with Phase 1-3 of the SCaN Program. This technology and communcaiton solution will enable earth orbiting missions to be deliver more data, providing greater return on mission investments. In addition, this radio could also be used to provide Destination Relay capabilities for Lunar and Mars missions.
One future development effort could focus on the slightly modifying the Ka-band antenna and RF front to allow it to communicate with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) network. TDRSS satellites 8-10 have a Ka-band Single Access (KaSA) service that is available to Space Network (SN) customers.
Communications with TDRSS satellites 8-10 through the Ka-band Single Access (KaSA) service that is available to Space Network (SN) customers can provide up to 300Mbps (uncoded) of data on the downlink (return link), along with a up to 7Mbps of command data (forward link).
Addition R/R&D would focus on improved link performance through antenna technology improvements by incorporating reflectarrays into the design as well as incorporating TUI?s Canfield join gimbal for antenna pointing.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
There are a number of government, industry, and university class instruments and experiments that fly on small satellites (and CubeSats in particular) that produce significantly greater quantities of data that can be downlinked to the ground using UHF and S-band links. By moving the communication link to Ka-band, higher throughputs can be achieved due to higher gain apertures both in space and on the ground, as well as the greater availability of bandwidth allocations at these higher frequencies.
The need for a high-throughput data crosslink and downlink has also been discussed with other government customers including DARPA, US Army, Air Force, and other government private customers. For some of these missions latency is a key factor, which may be addressed either through a private network of SWIFT-HPX radios that use disruption tolerant networking (DTN) techniques to quickly deliver the data from the collecting spacecraft, through intersatellite links to other spacecraft that are in communication with a ground station. Alternately, tuning the antenna and radio to TDRSS frequencies may would leverage NASA?s Space Network to provide this low-latency high througput data link.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING
- Antennas
- Architecture/Framework/Protocols
- Coding & Compression
- Command & Control
- Ranging/Tracking
- Relative Navigation (Interception, Docking, Formation Flying; see also Control & Monitoring; Planetary Navigation, Tracking, & Telemetry)
- Telemetry (see also Control & Monitoring)
- Telemetry/Tracking (Cooperative/Noncooperative; see also Planetary Navigation, Tracking, & Telemetry)
PROPOSAL SUMMARY
Award: SBIR Phase I
Maximum Potential Value: $125,000
PROPOSAL TITLE: Sensing and Positioning on Inclines and Deep Environments with Retrieval (SPIDER)
SUBTOPIC TITLE: Robotic Mobility, Manipulation and Sampling
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN
Tethers Unlimited
Bothell, WA
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER
Gregory Jimmerson
Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 2
End: 4
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT
To enable future robotic exploration systems to have greater mobility, sensing, sampling, and communication capabilities on difficult terrain such as craters, cliffs, gullies, and skylights, Tethers Unlimited proposes to develop a ?Sensing and Positioning on Inclines and Deep Environments with Retrieval? (SPIDER) system. This system employs an innovative lightweight ?orbital winch? with the capacity for rapid tether deployment and high load retrieval or towing. The unique design of the orbital winch accomplishes cable winding and deployment without rotating the spool, minimizing mass and power consumption, while eliminating the need for electrical and optical slip-ring. The SPIDER system also integrates a launcher that can be used to deploy a wide variety of tethered end-effectors to provide new capabilities for sample retrieval and sensing. A carousel of these stowed end-effectors will allow selection of appropriate implements for a desired task. For example, tethered anchor end-effectors could give planetary rovers the ability to rappel down ravines, tow themselves up steep slopes, or free themselves from a stuck position. Sensing and sampling end-effectors with data- and power- transmitting tethers can be deployed and retrieved from otherwise inaccessible areas, giving in-situ feedback via optical fibers. The SPIDER system can also be a launch platform for subsurface boring or ice-penetrating probes such as the Cryobot. Moreover, by launching an RF transmitter/receiver, the system could improve communications for a planetary rover entering a geologic feature that would impede radio contact, such as a lava tube. The Phase I effort will mature the SPIDER to TRL 4 by testing prototypes of key components, and the Phase II will mature an integrated system to TRL 6 by testing and qualifying a prototype in a relevant terrestrial environment.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The SPIDER system will allow NASA exploration missions to extend scientific investigations in previously inaccessible terrain. It will enable rovers to explore craters, cliffs, caves and gullies. It will enable sensor, sampler, and communication device placement and retrieval. The SPIDER system may also be used for deployment and retrieval of sampling systems in zero-G environments.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The SPIDER system could enable small robots used by Search and Rescue teams to locate victims in rubble due to earthquake or mine collapse. It could provide greater mobility for military and recreational vehicles. Additionally, the SPIDER system can providing high-bandwidth communications and power for mobile robots and ROV?s in military and civilian applications, such as urban tactical operations and underground environments, exploration of caves or mines, inspection of ship hulls, and inspection of water, sewer, and oil lines.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING
- Cables/Fittings
- Deployment
- Robotics (see also Control & Monitoring; Sensors)
- Surface Propulsion
- Vehicles (see also Autonomous Systems)
PROPOSAL SUMMARY
Award: SBIR Phase I
Maximum Potential Value: $125,000
PROPOSAL TITLE: TRUSSELATOR ? On-Orbit Fabrication of High Performance Support Structures for Solar Arrays
SUBTOPIC TITLE: Expandable/Deployable Structures
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN
Tethers Unlimited
Bothell, WA
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER
Robert Hoyt
Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 3
End: 4
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT
TUI proposes to develop and demonstrate a process for fabricating high-performance composite truss structures on-orbit and integrating them with thin film solar cell assemblies to enable the deployment of very large solar arrays with lower cost and increased power-per-mass than SOA array technologies. On-orbit fabrication enables order-of-magnitude improvements in packing efficiency compared to state of the art deployables technologies such as coilable booms, deployable masts, and inflatable structures, and also enables geometric optimizations to provide order-of-magnitude improvements in structural performance. The proposed effort will build upon an existing TRL-3 truss-fabrication mechanism design, called the ?Trusselator?, which adapts techniques used in 3D printing and automated fiber placement to fabricate arbitrarily-long composite trusses using compactly-wound spools of textile materials as a feedstock. The Phase I SBIR effort will evolve this design to enable fabrication of high-performance truss structures using space-worthy materials, and develop methods for integrating these truss structures with solar cell blankets and the necessary wiring. The Phase II effort will prepare an advanced prototype and mature it to TRL-5 through environmental testing in the lab, preparing it for orbital validation testing in follow-on efforts.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
By improving both the stowed volume and mass required for support structures by an order of magnitude, the Trusselator technology will enable NASA/HEOMD programs to deploy very large, scalable (30-300+kW) solar array systems at lower cost than SOA deployables technologies. The Trusselator technology will also enable improved performance and lower cost for a wide range of systems requiring large support structures, such as large solar sails, thermal shrouds, manned stations, and orbital propellant depots.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The Trusselator technology will enable DoD space programs and commercial space ventures to construct large, high-performance space structures for missions such as phased-array radar systems, sparse aper-ture radar for orbital debris detection, long-baseline geolocation, and commercial manned stations.
TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING
- Composites
- In Situ Manufacturing
- Joining (Adhesion, Welding)
- Robotics (see also Control & Monitoring; Sensors)
- Spacecraft Design, Construction, Testing, & Performance (see also Engineering; Testing & Evaluation)
- Structures
- Textiles
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