Commercialization of a Modular, High-Efficiency, Radiation-Hardened, PWM Controller for Decentralized, non-Linear Control and Novel Topologies

The evolving objectives, destinations, and requirements for future NASA missions, result in a broad array of system power requirements that must operate through extreme environmental conditions. With applications ranging from solar electric propulsion to landers and tethered probes, a power controller architecture that is both flexible and capable of performing in extreme environmental conditions is necessary. NASA Glen Research Center (GRC) along with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in collaboration with Apogee Semiconductor (AS) through a parallel Phase 2 SBIR and Tipping Point Contracts, has been working to develop a state of the art (SOA) digitally controlled switch mode power supply (SMPS) controller prototype, whose project code name is Jensen-PS. With the inputs and guidance provided by NASA and JPLs skilled team of power systems engineers, AS has developed a flexible radiation hardened (rad-hard) digital SMPS controller that can meet the requirements for the range of future NASA power architectures and can withstand the extreme environments that are anticipated in these future missions. This CCRPP work will achieve the following objectives: Porting of the proposed rad-hard PWM controller design into a commercially viable foundry Implementation of design changes to optimize the functionality of the PWM controller forNASA and non-NASA applications Development of production and qualification test infrastructure to MIL-PRF-38535 specifications Flight qualification of the rad-hard PWM controller Development of commercialization infrastructure such as applications boards, SPICE and other electrical models, and documentation The proposed deliverableof this CCRPP program is a TRL 8 flexible radiation-hardened PWM controller qualified to MIL-PRF-38535 specifications.Apogee Semiconductor will also demonstrate full rate production of the proposed innovation. The evolving objectives, destinations, and requirements for future NASA missions, result in a broad array of system power requirements that must operate through extreme environmental conditions. With applications ranging from solar electric propulsion to landers and tethered probes, a power controller architecture that is both flexible and capable of performing in extreme environmental conditions is necessary. NASA's evolving mission profile requires modular, configurable, and high-density power converters to enable scalable, cost-effective, and highly capable power systems. Most commercial controllers have poor radiation robustness, and current radiation tolerant and hard solutions result in large power systems with poor system performance. The proposed PWM controller can control a broad range of radiation-resistant power topologies that will enable Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) reduction of multiple NASA power systems. The key objectives of this program are as follows: To port the proposed rad-hard PWM controller design into a commercially viable foundry Apogee Semiconductor will work with a "tier 1" semiconductor foundry process it has identified to port the PWM IC design and the TalRad(TM) radiation hardened process that enables this innovation. Design changes will be implemented to optimize the functionality of the PWM controller for NASA and non-NASA applications Develop production and qualification test infrastructure Automated test, burn-in and other qualification infrastructure will be developed to MIL-PRF-38535 specifications Flight qualification of the rad-hard PWM controller Construction analysis, device evaluation, qualification and radiation hardness evaluation will be performed Develop commercialization infrastructure Applications boards, SPICE and other electrical models, and documentation will be developed for commercialization The proposed deliverable of this CCRPP program is a TRL 8 flexible radiation-hardened PWM controller qualified to MIL-PRF-38535 specifications. Apogee Semiconductor will also demonstrate full rate production of the proposed innovation.

The work proposed is well aligned with NASA’s Advanced Modular Power Systems (AMPS) project and fits with NASA’s push to modularize avionics platforms. The proposed PWM controller will also improve the conversion efficiency of various future NASA programs like the ones below: Power grid and high-power vehicle concepts like the ones below: Artemis power grid, VSAT, ISRU applications, Endurance A, Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), Uranus orbiter and probe, Enceladus Orbilander The proposed PWM controller will mainly be utilized by satellite electronics engineers developing power systems for various subsystems. High power and voltage applications, as well as payload power can benefit from this technology. In addition, high reliability module vendors plan to utilize this PWM to improve the electrical and radiation performance of their modules.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.