PFDS – Pre-Ignition Fire Detection System

Fire on board inhabited spacecraft or habitats on the Moon or Mars is one of the greatest conceivable hazards. Fires are currently detected exclusively by smoke detectors. Due to the weightlessness in orbit, they are prone to frequent false alarms triggered by non-sedimenting dust, while the preferred direction of smoke propagation is slowly towards the life-support system’s intake. In addition, smoke detectors can principally only detect an existing fire situation and, in the omnipresence of dust on the Moon, they can no longer be expected to function reliably. The new PFDS approach detects potential fire sources based on off-normal thermal outgassing of materials, e.g., volatile organic components from plastics or fabrics, in the cabin air. The semiconducting metal oxide sensors do not react to specific gases, but react to alterations in the overall composition of the air. Trained by applying machine-learning methods, they can reliably recognise alarming composition patterns. The method has already been successfully used to survey underground high-voltage power lines. It also has great potential for improved detection of terrestrial fires – ideally long before they break out.

Benefits:

Detection of potential fire sources even before ignition occurs
Proven principle
Low-cost components (for terrestrial application)
Easy installation
Wide range of applications

Universität Bremen,
Zentrum für angewandte Raumfahrttechnologie und Mikrogravitation, ZARM
Christian Eigenbrod
Christian.Eigenbrod@zarm.uni-bremen.de
zarm.uni-bremen.de

4. July 202211. August 2022

HERA – Integration of active and passive thermal management system for batteries in electrical cars within a load-bearing structure

Batteries in electric vehicles need to operate within a narrow temperature window to ensure maximum range and a long life. Load peaks, such as rapid charging and high acceleration or cold/hot environmental conditions, can cause the battery to exceed this window. Large active thermal management systems are currently used to absorb load peaks and prevent the battery from heating up or cooling down. These active systems consume a large amount of energy and imply additional mass. Furthermore, they are often not able to maintain the optimal operating temperature indefinitely, causing degradation of the battery cells. At HERA, we buffer load peaks by means of latent heat storage in passive components based on phase-change materials (PCM). To make this as efficient as possible, we have developed an intelligent structure that couples effective storage of the heat generated in the battery in the PCM with a tailored active cooling system. In this way, load peaks can be levelled out, thereby increasing range and extending battery life. The structure is based on Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS), which also allows efficient mass-specific mechanical load-bearing capability.

Benefits:

Weight savings through loadbearing structure.
Possibility to manufacture these structures conventionally (no additive manufacturing necessary)
High adaptability through tailorable geometry
Wide range of other applications, such as electrical aviation, heat pumps, reusable rockets, or energy storage for energy grid stability

Institut für Strukturmechanik und Leichtbau
RWTH Aachen
Tobias Meinert
tobias.meinert@sla.rwth-aachen.de
rwth-aachen.de

4. July 202211. August 2022

Graphene mirrors for lightweight optical systems

Aerospace mirrors need to perform throughout the system cycle under extreme conditions, although that comes at a price: heavy components that are not easy to substitute without introducing compromises in their specifications. Reflective films are an alternative to bulky mirrors, but they are mechanically fragile and have rough surfaces. SCALE Nanotech’s graphene micro-membrane technology offers a solution: G-Mirror©, an ultra-lightweight nanofilm that leverages the outperforming mechanical, optical and thermal properties of graphene material, while enabling cheap scale-up for its size and flexible shape (flat or curved). Our USP goes with our name: we SCALE up Nanotech. With G-Mirrors, graphene goes big or stays home: its size scalability and low mass will reduce payload costs, while its multipurpose nature allows for tailored solutions that tackle the specific applications of our customers with minimal impact on our manufacturing costs.

Benefits:

Ultra-thin and easy to pack (portable)
Large area and low mass (low cost)
Ultimate breaking strength (robust)
Minimal space footprint (clean)
Accepts different coatings (functional)

SCALE Nanotech OÜ
Dr Santiago J. Cartamil-Bueno
cartamil@scalenano.tech
Dr Barbara Núñez Fernández
bnunez@atrago.net
scalenano.tech

4. July 202211. August 2022

We create a virtual copy of the Earth – Ready for simulation, gaming and more

Today’s virtual worlds don’t meet the key requirements of the simulation industry. For instance, to simulate an autonomous vehicle, current virtual worlds are not sufficient in quality, scale, price, and flexibility. For example, Google Earth cannot be used for simulation, as it only looks like the real world, but does not behave like the real world. AVES Reality discovered a way to solve this, by looking at the world from space, instead of visiting and mapping every place down on Earth. Our unique solution lies in our AI, which understands and then appropriately and rapidly builds up any place on Earth from satellite imagery. As we know and understand every object we reconstruct, we can apply materials and physical attributes to make the virtual world behave like the real world.

Benefits:

Rapid creation of simulation worlds enables faster R&D iterations and accelerated time to market
AI-powered world creation eliminates manual labour for 3D modelling and mobile mapping
3D worlds for autonomous vehicle R&D serve as a safe space for virtual testing without physical driving
AI analysis enables perfect synthetic data, while parameter-based 3D creation enables infinite variations

AVES Reality GmbH
Florian Albert
florian.albert@avesreality.com
www.avesreality.com

4. July 202211. August 2022

Satellite-direct-to-phone service everywhere on the planet

Currently, about 90% of the planet and 75% of the Earth’s landmass has no cell tower connectivity either because it is not economical (very low-density areas) or physically impossible (in the ocean). Building land-based cell towers in uncovered regions is economically unsustainable. Lynk’s transformative global communications solution moves the traditional cell tower onto small satellites in Low Earth Orbit. Lynk’s constellation provides direct connectivity to 3GPP standard mobile devices on the ground including mobile phones and cellular IoT devices. Lynk’s patented technology compensates for Doppler shift (the cell tower is moving relative to the mobile device) and extended range time delay cell tower is now ~500 km from the mobile device) to provide global affordable mobile coverage. In 2021, Lynk proved its technology by connecting thousands of mobile devices across five countries with Lynk’s fifth satellite, Shannon. This technical milestone is the first step in connecting everyone everywhere outside terrestrial tower coverage using their existing, unmodified mobile devices. On April 1, 2022, Lynk launched its first commercial-ready satellite enabling the company to begin providing commercial service later in 2022.

Benefits:

Ubiquitous global mobile coverage for billions of people
Mobile network resiliency not impacted by natural disasters
Alleviating digital poverty in remote or dispersed communities

Lynk Global Inc.
Mahmoud Khafagy, Margo Deckard, Tyghe Speidel
info@lynk.world
lynk.world

23. June 202127. July 2021

PhySens GmbH – magnetic rail infrastructure monitoring

Digital rail infrastructure monitoring is vital for future rail mobility. Especially for autonomous train operation, knowledge of the exact position of, e.g., a switch, is required at all times. Current systems are based on a mechanical measurement principle or operate indirectly by analysing, e.g., the current consumption of switch actuators. As a result, they provide non-continuous feedback on the real position or movements of components, which can lead to false alarms. In this case, tracks need to be closed until the components are examined, which causes delays. The new system for digital, wireless monitoring of rail infrastructure, developed by PhySens GmbH, is based on a high-precision magnetic measurement principle. The standardised, easily retrofittable sensor monitors data from switches, railroad crossings or signals, which are processed in the cloud. Using the system, the exact position of switch components or railroad crossing barriers can be determined precisely. In addition, information about the current mechanical state is provided and can be used for predictive maintenance. In this way, the system decreases delays, while simultaneously reducing maintenance costs and extending the lifetime of infrastructures.

Benefits:

Retrofittable, standardised system for infrastructure monitoring
Mechanically robust and maintenance-free sensor and cloud-based data processing
Prevention of track closures and costly maintenance work

PhySens GmbH
Henriette Struckmann
h.struckmann@physens.de
www.physens.de

22. June 20217. March 2023

DEBRIS – cleaning space at scale

The ever-growing amount of space debris is a critical threat to the space industry and jeopardises the essential services provided to clients all over the world. Although the potential for cascading collisions was outlined many decades ago, no active countermeasures to remove debris from orbit have yet been realised. DEBRIS is a small satellite for active debris removal. It utilises its geometry-independent, multi-capturing-capable mechanism to attach to target objects. After establishing physical contact with its target, DEBRIS employs passive devices — a drag sail and a tether — to deorbit them with great flexibility. From an economic perspective, DEBRIS renders active space debris removal profitable. Key cost-reducing features are its rideshare-optimised design, commercial off-the-shelf components, as well as its low development and operational costs. DEBRIS’s cost-effectiveness and scalability make it unique among other proposals for active space debris removal.

Benefits:

Small satellite solution for active space debris removal
Geometry-independent multicapturing technology
Highly scalable and cost-effective design

German Network of Young
Scientists – juFORUM e.V.
Niklas Wendel
niklas.wendel@juforum.de
www.juforum.de

22. June 202127. July 2021

DigiFarm – detecting the world’s most accurate field boundaries to power precision agriculture

All precision agriculture services start with accurate field boundaries and seeded acres. Unfortunately, the problem is that one is making critical decisions based on inaccurate data, cadastral field boundary data, which is affecting the entire agricultural value chain. DigiFarm has spent the last two years developing a deep-resolution algorithm for Sentinel-2 imagery to increase image resolution by 10x from 10m to 1m, coupled with a deep neural network model to automatically detect field boundaries on a large scale. DigiFarm has delineated over 15 million ha across the world and has achieved an average (IoU) accuracy of above 0.96, which represents up to 20% greater accuracy than existing cadastral map data. DigiFarm delivers four key models to B2B and B2G clients through various API endpoints, including: automatic field boundary detection (and seeded acres), deep resolution of Sentinel-2 at 1m resolution on demand, automatic delineation of in-field productivity zones and crop classification, the ability to automatically detect field boundaries (seeded acres) using deep neural network models and super-high-resolution satellite imagery.

Benefits:

Deep neural network model to delineate field boundaries and seeded acres
Deep neural network model for the deep resolution of Sentinel-2 (10x) to 1m per pixel resolution, achieving sub-metre georeference accuracy
Packaged products in APIs with simple integration and setup
Easy SaaS pricing for B2B and B2G clients starting at EUR 0.03 per hectare/year

DigiFarm AS
Nils Helset, Konstantin Varik
nils@digifarm.io
konstantin@digifarm.io
www.digifarm.io

22. June 202127. July 2021

QuVeKS – quantum processors for encrypted communication with satellites

Novel quantum technologies of the 21st century promise unconditionally secure communication, exponentially larger computational power as well as compact and more precise sensors. Many of the quantum systems under investigation, however, are application-specific and not compatible with each other. Within the QuVeKS project, a universal quantum processor will be developed at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena and the CiS Forschungsinstitut für Mikrosensorik. This processor integrates the entire architecture, from the quantum light source to the detectors, into a compact circuit and can be universally programmed just like a computer chip for various applications. The project places a special focus on secure communication with satellites, as the QuVeKS chip can be used as a light source for quantum cryptography during daylight. Moreover, compared to conventional laser-based systems, the data rates can be enhanced drastically. In the long term, end-user devices such as smartphones or computers could also be equipped with such a QuVeKS chip, where it could be used as a secure random number generator or as a sensor.

Benefits:

Secure communication based on the laws of nature
Higher data rates compared to laser-based systems
Flexible use cases through universal programming
Future standard component with local supply chain

Institute of Applied Physics,
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Dr Tobias Vogl
tobias.vogl@uni-jena.de
www.iap.uni-jena.de

22. June 202127. July 2021

PhySens – intelligent system maintenance and current monitoring

With increasing automation and demand for energy efficiency, new digital measurement solutions are more pertinent than ever for monitoring and process optimisations. Existing products based on current monitoring lack flexibility and are costly to install. Due to the operating principle, these sensors can only measure the current in a single conductor of a cable. Therefore, these systems are unsuitable for many businesses, especially for retrofits because of cost and complexity. Based on space technology deployed as part of ESA’s Rosetta Mission, PhySens GmbH developed a contactless, non-invasive and easily retrofittable sensor solution for current measurement. By simply mounting the sensor on a cable, it measures the currents in all conductors simultaneously using high-precision magnetic field data. As a result, this new sensor-solution can detect and classify anomalies in current profiles caused by e.g. faulty motors or seized bearings in hard-to-access or sealed machinery. This is vital for intelligent load management and predictive maintenance as part of industrial automation or future manned space missions.

Benefits:

New contactless, non-invasive current sensor based on space technology
Vital for industrial automation
Easy-to-install, flexible and safe solution also suitable for space applications

PhySens GmbH
Katharina Ostaszewski
k.ostaszewski@physens.de
www.physens.de

Category: 1st

PFDS – Pre-Ignition Fire Detection System

PFDS – Pre-Ignition Fire Detection System

HERA – Integration of active and passive thermal management system for batteries in electrical cars within a load-bearing structure

HERA – Integration of active and passive thermal management system for batteries in electrical cars within a load-bearing structure

Graphene mirrors for lightweight optical systems

Graphene mirrors for lightweight optical systems

We create a virtual copy of the Earth – Ready for simulation, gaming and more

We create a virtual copy of the Earth – Ready for simulation, gaming and more

Satellite-direct-to-phone service everywhere on the planet

Satellite-direct-to-phone service everywhere on the planet

PhySens GmbH – magnetic rail infrastructure monitoring

PhySens GmbH – magnetic rail infrastructure monitoring

DEBRIS – cleaning space at scale

DEBRIS – cleaning space at scale

DigiFarm – detecting the world’s most accurate field boundaries to power precision agriculture

DigiFarm – detecting the world’s most accurate field boundaries to power precision agriculture

QuVeKS – quantum processors for encrypted communication with satellites

QuVeKS – quantum processors for encrypted communication with satellites

PhySens – intelligent system maintenance and current monitoring

PhySens – intelligent system maintenance and current monitoring

INNOspace Masters

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