Dynamic Power Conversion

This project aims to produce a small, very high performance, radhard, modular AC-DC Fission Surface Power (FSP) controller that incorporates a novel fine dust and EM mitigation solutions. The program focus is to develop a small radhard power manager for a lunar rover mounted FSP generator enabling long duration operation in dark conditions. The solution is based on advances in radhard ASIC controller/modulator technology and radhard bidirectional wide bandgap (WBG) bidirectional converter power topology. Future work will expand to extending the controller system to a novel GaN-based bidirectional isolated converter for system-level demonstration meeting lunar and M2M Surface mission needs, especially in regard to supporting lander and rover missions. Our initial focus being development of small nuclear fission power delivery based on power electronics that can safely operate in lunar radiation/dust environments while providing power generation in the dark conditions as to enable long duration exploration in permanently shadowed areas or during lunar nights.

FSP program aims to provides means to efficiently generate substantial electrical power, either solely or in support of solar energy power even in dark condition with obvious benefits for a number of NASA critical mission needs. Future NASA applications potentially utilizing nuclear power include Mars science explorations, regolith/subsurface mining, lunar and Mars surface landers, crewed surface outposts, deep space planetary orbiters, Ocean World science landers, and robotic space probes. The development of a feature rich military grade controller/modulator ASIC that can support more complex modulation schemes (crucial for multilevel topology power supplies) can realize lower costs and reduce weight. that would replace the very expensive FPGA modulator options, offering our military customers a more integrated inverters and converters at reduced cost.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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