Servo-Drive Amplifier for Micro-Satellite Superconductor-Levitated Flywheels, Phase I

A new servo-drive technology is available to support energy storage and navigation for micro-satellites. Exploiting the ?pinning? effect of high-temperature superconductors, high-speed momentum wheels can be suspended in a stable condition that is virtually independent of speed (unlike magnetic levitation). Aside from the motor drive, this levitation system is compact and highly energy efficient. To be effective it requires a drive that is equally compact and energy efficient. It also requires extremely high servo performance with especially low torque ripple. Barrett proposes an innovation to support such a compact/efficient drive amplifier. Phase I will focus on feasibility of this approach and Phase II will support prototype design and aggressive space qualification of this unit.

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.