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The knowledge bank of ESA’s R&D programmes

De-risk assessment: Electrically coupled angular encoder for long-life mechanisms

Programme
GSTP
Programme Reference
G617-241TAal
Prime Contractor
EMBEDDED INSTRUMENTS AND SYSTEMS SL
Start Date
End Date
Status
Closed
Country
Spain
De-risk assessment: Electrically coupled angular encoder for long-life mechanisms
Objectives

Engineering Model of a contactless rotatory position sensor with 0.01º resolution for a temperature range -55ºC to 100ºC.

Description

There is a need within the space sector of medium to high resolutions rotatory position sensors suitable for low cost, space qualified and off-the-shelf solutions. The developed sensor could be used for SADM, optical pointing mechanisms, antennas drive mechanism among others.

The sensor has been manufactured successfully in its Engineering Model version with the corresponding precision, 0.01º, for the whole temperature range, -55ºC to 110ºC.  The simplicity of the sensor allows adapt it to any interface used in space applications, digital or analogue without increasing its price. In this sense, the technology applied allows a lower price in comparison with competitors in space applications market, and an increment of the sensor resolution does not increases the price.

The technology developed by emxys introduces a completely new technology in space applications that reduces cost significantly, whilst reduces complexity and power consumption for high resolution sensors.

EMXYS will change the sensor configuration to reach final version off-the-self and perform a qualification campaign.

Application Domain
Generic Technologies
Technology Domain
15 - Mechanisms
Competence Domain
2-Structures, Mechanisms, Materials, Thermal
Initial TRL
TRL 5
Target TRL
TRL 6
Achieved TRL
TRL 5
Public Document
Final Presentation
Executive Summary