Space Automation
The group has developed several technologies and facilities with the purpose to improve the robotics automation in space.
The space robotics is studied in two different ways that have produce two different environments:
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- Numerical simulator. In the last years, the group has collaborate with ESA in order to develop a virtual environment to tests Guidance Navigation and Control algorithms for space robotics.
- Experimental validation. The numerical simulations are tested with real hardware (which is representative of that used in satellites) through experimental campaign.
Hyper Velocity
The hypervelocity impact facility is based on a two-stage light gas cannon (LGG), which can achieve a high daily firing rate with extremely low operating costs. The cannon can fire projectiles with a diameter between 0.5 and 12 mm at a maximum speed of 5.5 km/s. Peculiarity of this facility is the possibility to
perform several tests in the same day, with a limited need for maintenance. These peculiarities make the apparatus unique in the world and capable of providing first-rate service at the international level. The system is used for the analysis of problems induced by the micrometeroritic and debris environment
on automated satellites and space stations, for the study of the collisional evolution of small bodies in the solar system, and for the study of materials subjected to very high strain rates.
CISAS laboratories for the qualification of space components
The laboratories dedicated to the qualification of space components have been continuously updated to meet the needs dictated by participation in national and international space programs mainly in AIV activities and on qualification tests for sensors and instrumentation. The laboratories house clean rooms (from class 10000 to class 100), climatic chambers for thermal vacuum tests with temperature control in the range of 80-420 K and a control volume of about 1000 liters, and electrodynamic shakers capable of performing mechanical tests with sine, random and shock excitation.
CISAS Horizontal TV chamber: this chamber is used for experiments in High vacuum conditions.
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Internal Volume
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Max: Diameter 900 mm – Length 900 mm (Without internal baseplate) Nominal: Height 570 mm – Length 900 mm (With internal baseplate) |
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Thermal control (Cooling)
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Controlled Nitrogen flow in a dedicated cryostat (Achieved Cryostat temperature around -190°C) |
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Thermal control (Heating)
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3 PID-controlled thermal resistance circuits ( Max Current 15 A) |
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Available temperature sensors (pt 100)
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30
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Achievable Internal Absolute Pressure
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< 5 10-5 mbar
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Available interfaces on external flanges
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BNC, DB9, DB25, USB ..configurable using different flanges
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CISAS Horizontal TV chamber- Detail of interfaces on lateral flanges.
(configurable using different flanges)
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CISAS Horizontal TV chamber (left) and view of the internal cryostat with the thermally controlled baseplate. |
CISAS vertical TV chamber: CISAS vertical TV chamber is used for experiments in Vacuum conditions when a bigger internal volume is needed (for example for testing Lunar drilling payloads).
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CISAS Vertical TV chamber
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Electrodynamic shakerThe electrodynamic shaker has a maximum force up to 10 kN in the frequency range 5-5000 Hz and is use to perform sine, random and SRS shock tests on space equipment for qualification and acceptance processes. Solar simulatorThe designed solar simulator can reproduce the intensity and spectral distribution of the Sun’s radiation up to 10 Solar constants and has been installed near a Thermal Vacuum Chamber provided with a viewport in order to be able to test the performance of any space equipment under a range of pressure and temperature conditions, including different intensities of sunlight and different angles of incidence. |
Electrodynamic shaker |
Solar Simulator
