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Active Electromechanical Suspension System for Planetary Rovers

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
95661 		Program Year/Program:
2010 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
090092 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
T1 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Balcones Technologies LLC
10532 Grand Oak Circle Austin, TX 78750-3851
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2010
Title: Active Electromechanical Suspension System for Planetary Rovers
Agency: NASA
Contract: NNX10RA82P
Award Amount: $99,992.00
 

Abstract:

Balcones Technologies, LLC proposes to adapt actively controlled suspension technology developed by The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics (CEM) for high performance off-road vehicles to address STTR 2009-1 Subtopic T1.02, Information Technologies for Intelligent Planetary Robots. In particular, our team will develop a concept design for an actively controlled ElectroMechanical Suspension (EMS) system, including algorithms, software and hardware, that dramatically improves mobility for MER to MSL scale rovers. Our system exploits and adapts approximately $25M of highly successful active suspension R&D at CEM since 1993. It also exploits CEM's experience developing electromechanical systems for space applications gained during NASA funded programs to develop flywheel energy storage system technology for the International Space Station. Finally, it exploits our team's extensive experience migrating University technology to commercially viable manufacturable products. Relevant features of our anticipated solution include:

Principal Investigator:

Joseph H. Beno
Principal Investigator
5129181496
j.beno@cem.utexas.edu

Business Contact:

Joseph H. Beno
President & CEO
5129181496
Small Business Information at Submission:

Balcones Technologies, LLC
10532 Grand Oak Circle Austin, TX 78750

EIN/Tax ID: 260679384
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
University of Texas, Center for Electromechanics
P.O. Box 7726
Austin, TX 78713
Contact: Joseph Beno
Contact Phone: 5124716424