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Fast Steering Mirrors piézoélectriques et magnétiques
5 septembre 2023
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) développe depuis plus de 20 ans des miroirs à orientation rapide (FSM) pour répondre aux besoins des secteurs de l’aviation, de l’espace, de la défense et d’autres applications embarquées ou exigeantes. Les applications typiques sont par exemple le Lidar, la communication optique en espace libre (FSO) et l’interférométrie laser. Comme les spécifications rencontrées dans ces applications peuvent varier, CTEC a conçu et breveté différentes technologies d’actionnement :
– Les FSM basés sur les actionneurs piézoélectriques amplifiés APA®, comme pour les missions PHARAO, ATLID, PSYCHE, et pour les futures constellations spatiales FSO ainsi que d’autres grands FSM pour l’espace et l’instrumentation comme l’ELT de l’ESO.
– Les FSM basés sur l’actionnement magnétique, tels qu’ils sont développés pour les communications optiques FSO et CO-OP vers les géosatellites.
– Les FSM basés sur des actionneurs piézoélectriques pas à pas, comme pour l’IASI-NG pour METOP-SG, ainsi que d’autres FSM basés sur des moteurs piézoélectriques.
La présentation décrit le principe de fonctionnement, la conception et les performances de ces différents concepts d’actionnement.
Light-controlled mechanisms based on photomobile polymers for seamless integration in demanding environments
14 juin 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 juin 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 juin 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.
