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Light-controlled mechanisms based on photomobile polymers for seamless integration in demanding environments
14 June 2024
Photomobile polymers (PMP) are active materials that convert light into mechanical movement. They can be used in energy harvesters, light-controlled actuators, or mechanisms. Because they are controlled by light and work without electricity, they offer unique opportunities for designing devices that can be integrated seamlessly and that require virtually no maintenance. This finds interest in fields like nuclear energy, medical implants, biology, space, or Internet of Things (IoT). Cedrat Technologies have designed, built, and tested 3 proof of concept prototypes: a mechanical switch, a mechanical valve, and an optical deflector. The present paper will present these 3 concepts and the tests results in detail.
Magnetic Fast Steering Mirror for Inter-satellites and Feeder Link Optical Communication
14 June 2024
In order to cope with performances of Fine Pointing, and Fast Steering mirror requirements for Space Optical Communi-cation, CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) is developing magnetic Fast Steering Mirror’s (M-FSM) family, based on proprietary MICA™ flexure bearing magnetic actuators mechanism (Moving Iron Controllable Actuator), with embedded eddy current sensors (ECS).
FSM design expected for Optical Inter-Satellite Link (OISL) in large-scale New Space constellations, is highly driven by mandatory cost-efficiency for high quantities recurrent production, while FSM design expected for Feeder-Link commu-nication is driven instead by high power Laser requirements together with high level of redundancy.
In this publication CTEC is presenting both the M-FSM45 and M-FSM-HPL designs, and test results, respectively for inter-satellites and feeder link optical communications.
Miniature Piezo Fast Steering Mirror for Optical Communication in NanoSats and CubeSats
14 June 2024
Access to data has become vital and strategical for individuals and nations, Earth planet preservation and monitoring, and mobility applications. In this context, the number of satellite constellations projects is growing drastically worldwide and is a next generation challenge of the New Space cost efficient industry.
To replace radio frequencies (RF) communications, space optical communication will be the new trend, addressing both very high speed and as secured encrypted communication improvements.
Fast Steering Mirrors (FSM) are a key component used in optical communication, and for a large field of functions such as Point Ahead Mechanisms (PAM), Raster Scanning, Beam Steering Mirrors (BSM), Fine Pointing Mechanisms (FPM) and Line of Sight stabilization (LOS).
The following paper presents test results of CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES piezoelectric mini-FSM and associated CCBu20 driving electronics.
Optimized high-efficiency MICA actuators for space compressors
14 June 2024
Moving Iron Controllable Actuators MICA™ are magnetic linear actuators from CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) that find interests in applications requiring high-force density and low heating. Because of these attractive performances, some space applications such as ZBO Gas compressors and Pulse Tube Cryocooler are considering their use in operational missions. However, this last application requires the demonstration of additional features, notably a high efficiency, a long lifetime and a good force homogeneity to minimize the generation of exported micro-vibrations. To fulfil these additional features, CTEC has developed an optimised MICA following the specifications of the Pulse Tube Cryocooler (PTC) of AIR LIQUIDE. The paper will present the performance progresses obtained on this customized MICA, from modelling prediction to lab tests of Engineering Models.
P-FSM and M-FSM piezoelectric and magnetic fast steering mirrors
5 September 2023
To meet needs in air, space, defence & other embedded or demanding applications CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) bas developed for more than 20 years Fast Steering Mirrors (FSM). Typical applications are for example Lidar, free space optical communication (FSO) and Laser interferometry. As the specifications met in these applications can vary, CTEC bas designed and patented different actuation technologies:
– FSM based on Amplified Piezo Actuators APA®, as for PHARAO, ATLID, PSYCHE missions, and for future FSO space constellations as well as other large FSM for space & instrumentation as ESO ELT.
– FSM based on Magnetic Actuation, as being developed for FSO and CO-OP optical communication toward Geosat.
– FSM based on Stepping Piezo Actuators, as for IASI-NG for METOP-SG, as well as other piezomotor-based FSM.
The presentation describes the working principle, design and performance of these different actuation concepts.
Real-Time Image Super Resolution System Based on Micro-scanning Technology
5 September 2023
Different from the recent popular super resolution system based on AI technology which needs normally massive training datasets, the micro-scanning super resolution system by integrating the high-precision mechanism and the image processing system can overpass the training datasets limit to enhance the image resolution and quality considerably in real time. Such a real-time image super resolution system named Quick Demo Station (QDS) system is presented. This system is jointly developed by Shanghai IAE, China, in cooperation with Cedrat technologies, France. The system is made of two modules, one imaging module (MicroScan_ VIS_Module ), the other image processing module (a portable image processing workstation). The image processing module performs imaging module’s control, as well as image acquisition, image registration, image superresolution reconstruction, image contrast enhancement. Here the algorithm used to restore the low-resolution (LR) images is the iterative reconstruction method, which could achieve high quality super-resolution (SR) results. The output is a video stream whose frame rate is higher than 25 frames per second. The system is being tested in different applications and show the excellent super-resolution results, including low light level conditions and outdoor variable lighting scenarios. Furthermore, the algorithm in image processing module can be used not only on the workstations, but also in embedded processing system.
