{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":6376,"title":"DC-Motor Drive Encompassing SiGe Asynchronous Control Electronics for Ultra-Wide (-230 °C to +130 °C) Environments, Phase II","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10926,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10923,"level":3,"code":"TX14.1.3","title":"Thermal Conditioning for Sensors, Instruments, and High Efficiency Electric Motors","definition":"This area includes cost-effective, high-efficiency, low-weight/vibration cryocoolers and advanced sub-Kelvin cooling technology; technologies for thermal management for cryogenic applications to unique flight science sensors and instrumentation; and technologies to integrate cryocoolers into superconduction machines and power electronics for electrified aircraft. This area also includes technologies relevant to NASA’s unique wide-ranging science mission and research activities as well.","exampleTechnologies":"Integrated thermal control/parasitics; cryocooler refrigeration below 10 K; cryocooler refrigeration above 10 K; magnetic refrigeration, dilution coolers, multi-stage mechanical coolers, multi-stage passive coolers and Turbo-Brayton cryocoolers; Joule-Thomson effect; solid cryogens heat sink; liquid hydrogen spacecraft dewars; vapor cooling for instruments and storage hardware; solar shields/baffles for spacecraft cryogenic systems; coatings to limit thermal load on spacecraft cryogenic systems; heat rejection; thermal switches; thermal parasitics for cryogenic fluids/ cryocooler systems; emerging applications for cryogenic environments such as low-temperature mechanisms (e.g. planetary exploration); integrated cryocoolers for superconducting motors","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"benefits":"Potential new applications for this technology are found in the commercial avionics, medical, and defense sectors. The avionics industry is actively pursuing the development of extreme temperature electronics for sensors, radio-frequency power amplifiers, and actuators/motor drive application. This technology has the potential of simplifying the design of the next generation of crafts and commercial satellites, expanding their current capabilities. The medical fields and the defense sectors have particular interest in extreme temperature electronics since it has the potential of impacting several areas such as magnetic resonance imaging, particle accelerators, etc. This technology can also foster other research fields such as superconducting (i.e., cryogenic) power transmission and distribution, superconducting motors and generators, etc. It should be reemphasized that APEI, Inc. is in discussion with British Aerospace regarding technology transfer for both NASA and non-NASA applications, and as such, BAE has provided a letter of support indicating their view that this is a critical technology need in the industry. The first market for this technology will be in the power electronics systems of NASA Lunar and Martian science missions and deep space exploration vehicles, including spacecraft, balloons, rockets, and aircraft. APEI, Inc. plans to develop the technology throughout Phases I, II, and III with this purpose and goal in mind. There are a wide range of NASA applications in which this technology could significantly improve performance and/or reduce launch costs. Ultra-wide temperature electronics will eliminate (or reduce) the need for thermal control reducing size, weight, and power usage. This will enable greater mobility and lifetime for surface exploration craft. This technology can be also used on space-based observatories, such as the Next-Generation Space Telescope that need actuators and drives to operate at deep cryogenic temperatures. Deep space missions would greatly benefit from high density light-weight power management and electronics systems. There are, however, a number of other applications beyond NASA that would find this technology extremely valuable.","description":"In Phase I, the research team formed by APEI, Inc. and University of Arkansas proved the feasibility of developing ultra-wide temperature (-230oC to +130 oC) motor drives utilizing silicon-germanium (SiGe) asynchronous logic digital control electronics by the successful design, simulation and layout of an insensitive-delay asynchronous microcontroller. The microcontroller incorporates asynchronous-to-synchronous and synchronous-to-asynchronous interfaces (wrappers) using an IBM SiGe 5AM process. The complete asynchronous microcontroller was successfully simulated using temperature calibrated models to -230 C. Electronic components needed in the development of the DC-motor power stage were first characterized down to -184 C and then a complete 20W DC-motor drive power stage was successfully demonstrated while operating at cryogenic temperatures and driving a Maxon RE 25 permanent magnet DC-motor at full power (This motor is currently used on the Mars Spirit and Opportunity rovers). Ultra-wide temperature power electronics system will have a profound impact on deep space exploration craft enabling greater mobility and mission lifetime. The use of ultra-wide temperature power electronics will allow increased payload capacity of Lunar and Mars exploratory craft, while improving reliability through reduced system level complexity. The goal of this Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is to deliver, to NASA JPL, a complete DC-motor drive that is fully functional over the entire temperature range required for lunar and Martian extreme environment exploratory robotic missions (-230 C to +130 C). This cryogenic DC-motor drive will encompass a SiGe-based 8051-compatible delay-insensitive asynchronous microcontroller with significantly enhanced capabilities for the advanced control of the DC-motor drive.","startYear":2006,"startMonth":12,"endYear":2008,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":406833,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Roberto","lastName":"Schupbach","fullName":"Roberto Schupbach","fullNameInverted":"Schupbach, Roberto","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":66173,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Celestino Jun","lastName":"Rosca","fullName":"Celestino Jun Rosca","fullNameInverted":"Rosca, Celestino Jun","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[],"transitions":[{"transitionId":232,"projectId":6376,"transitionDate":"2008-12-01","path":"Closed Out","infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"December 2008"}],"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"leadOrganization":{"acronym":"JPL","canUserEdit":false,"city":"Pasadena","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":true,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4946,"organizationName":"Jet Propulsion Laboratory","organizationType":"FFRDC_2fUARC","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59},"stateTerritoryId":59,"naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"FFRDC/UARC"},"supportingOrganizations":[{"canUserEdit":false,"city":"Fayetteville","congressionalDistrict":"Arkansas 03","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":true,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4390,"organizationName":"Arkansas Power Electronics International, Inc.","organizationType":"Industry","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"AR","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Arkansas","stateTerritoryId":40},"stateTerritoryId":40,"ein":"161407666 ","uei":"JG6PXPRCVNE5","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"Industry"}],"statesWithWork":[{"abbreviation":"AR","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Arkansas","stateTerritoryId":40},{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59}],"lastUpdated":"2018-10-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":408,"endDateString":"Dec 2008","startDateString":"Dec 2006"}}