Demonstration of Electromagnetic Formation Flight and Wireless Power Transfer

Abstract

The Resonant Inductive Near-Field Generation System uses a single set of hardware to perform both electromagnetic formation flight and wireless power transfer operations in a six-degree-of-freedom microgravity environment. The system serves primarily as a test bed for control algorithms, and operation onboard the International Space Station allows for more complicated and realistic algorithms to be tested. This offers an advantage compared with the restrictive, dynamic environment of flat floor facilities on the ground or the limited duration of reduced-gravity flights. The hardware attaches to the formation flight-test facility inside the International Space Station referred to as the Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites. Design and development of the support hardware and electronics, as well as some test results from ground testing, a parabolic flight campaign, and preliminary test sessions on the International Space Station are presented. Ground tests and the parabolic flight campaign results include preliminary inertia and thruster characterization of the combined Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System/Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites assembly. Preliminary on-orbit test results include data demonstrating wireless power transfer of approximately 30% and qualitative observations of electromagnetic formation flight with one Resonant Inductive Near-Field Generation System unit restrained and the other unit free floating.

TED Project: Conjugating Technology Development and Educational Activities

“…A relevant work on proximity electromagnetic navigation is represented by the RINGS (Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation System) project in the framework of MIT SPHERES program. In the on-orbit tests on the ISS, the SPHERES vehicles were equipped with large coils, in order to generate electromagnetic coupling actions for both power transfer and relative navigation [42]. In parallel, a simpler technology was designed and tested in ground laboratories by Underwood and Pellegrino [43] on low friction tables, in the framework of the AAREST program for in-orbit assembly of a space telescope.…”

Applying autonomy to distributed satellite systems: Trends, challenges, and future prospects

“…This translates to the ability to collaborate with other systems by communicating with them and supplying or consuming some of their on‐board resources. Even the bolder capability of wirelessly exchanging power is seen as a potential internal function of some DSS implementations …”

3Cat-1 project: a multi-payload CubeSat for scientific experiments and technology demonstrators

“…The purpose of this technology demonstrator payload is to characterize the effects of space plasma upon the performance of resonant inductive coupling wireless power transfer [RIC-WPT] systems, in the context of future WPT-enabled fractionated satellites and small satellite swarms (Porter et al 2014). RIC-WPT systems, which consider wireless exchange of power between a transmitter and a receiver based on magnetic field, can potentially achieve high efficiency power transfer for mid ranges by virtue of coupling highly resonant and tuned transmitter and receiver resonators.…”