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Completed TRL 4 (started at 1, targeting 4)
There is a need to enhance the commercial utilization of the International Space Station for space-based manufacturing of unique high commercial valued materials that can only be made in microgravity. Apsidal will address the above-mentioned challenges by developing its Laser Doppler Anemometry Assisted Hypercognitive Microgravity Materials Manufacturing Unit. This would allow the manufacturing of high valued optical materials in a way that is fault tolerant, automated, universal and easily adaptable to a space-based environment. At the heart of this unit is its hypercognitive deep-learning control system for manufacturing that seamlessly allows an earth-based method to translate to a zero-gravity environment -- a considerably arduous and expensive task. In order to ensure that the deep learning control is well defined, an innovative in-situ Laser-Doppler-Anemometry based material-quality-check sensor is used as a continuous input to the deep learning-based control system for manufacturing unit. This adaptable approach also drastically minimizes human involvement and the number of space-based iterations.
The main NASA applications would be the utilization of the International Space Station for commercial manufacturing of high valued and high-demand materials. This will fuel low earth orbit flights for manufacturing and will further lead to the establishment of manufacturing units on the moon and can fuel additional space exploration. Additional NASA end-user applications include remote sensing, communications, precision cutting tools and space defense systems.
This has important applications in broad spectral imaging, high-bandwidth communications, spectroscopy, high fidelity encryption and cryptography, remote sensing, medical diagnostics, laser technology and process control. It has a major market for aerospace and defense applications and commercial markets. This is important for education and research on the effects of gravity on complex materials.
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