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Revolutionary SmallSat Power Enhancement

Description:

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Technology;Integrated Network System-of-Systems

 

OBJECTIVE: Using novel technology to dramatically (at least double) increase available on-orbit power in an ESPA or ESPA Grande class vehicle. Considerations could include enhancing on board processing power efficiency, reducing power requirements of significant power consumption devices or improved power generation, all while maintaining overall commoditized size, weight and cost points currently available

 

DESCRIPTION: Using novel technology to dramatically (at least double) increase available on-orbit power in an ESPA or ESPA Grande class vehicle. Considerations could include enhancing on board processing power efficiency, reducing power requirements of significant power consumption devices or improved power generation, all while maintaining overall commoditized size, weight and cost points currently available

 

PHASE I: Phase 1 feasibility will demonstrate a product or power management control system that effectiely improves power operation or conserves power use.      

A.)  Novel systems that includes more effcient batteries, higher yielding solar arrays, or lower power consuming devices show a good way forward and further development will support a lower power system on orbit   

B.)  Effective power management is essential and power control and power managment systems that have potential to reduce the need for power consumption or that demonstrate a more effective way to manage power use on orbits should be explored

 

PHASE II: Phase II will demonstrate a more effective power enhancement system, which could be providing more power, reducing power consumption or more effectively managing the existing power systems.  A working model, either virtual or that is integrated with several pieces of hardware, will demonstrate power enhancement that either provides more power or reduces power consumption.  Demonstration of that will provide the way forward for novel SmallSat power enhancement.

 

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: As more and more satellites are in orbit, especially in a proliferated LEO constellation, they will have multiple tasks which will require varied and different power consumption.  Finding effective SmallSat Power Enhancement will be essential to providing those new technologies and allowing them to either provide more power, or manage the existing power more effectively.  Specific topics include effective power management, novel power generation, autonomous power control systems, and power monitoring systems.

 

REFERENCES:

  1. Mostacciuolo, Elisa, Iannelli, Luigi, et al., "Modeling and power management of a LEO small satellite electrical power system,' 2018 European Control Conference (ECC) Tuschida, Kwamato, Kato, et al., "Efficient Power Control for Satellite-Borne Batteries Using Q-Learning in Low-Earth-Orbit Satellite Constellations"   IEEE Wireless Communications Letters ( Volume: 9, Issue: 6, June 2020)

 

KEYWORDS: Small Satellite Power Management; On Orbit Power Efficency; Improved Satellite Power Control Systems; Novel Battery systems on orbit; Novel battery satellite systems

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