DYNOVAS INC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: H5

Description

Dynovasrsquo; Shape Memory Actuated Retractable and Deployable (SMARD) booms provide the Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) program and Dynovasrsquo; own Motorless Array Deployment (MAD) energy and Motorless Expandable Solar (MESA) arrays a high-load, motorless option to deploy and retract solar arrays in the 40-60 kW class. SMARD integrates Nitinol shape memory alloy with a bistable composite boom(s) to deliver lifting/lowering forces gt; 330 N (the estimated weight of a 50 kW solar array). The Nitinol shape memory alloy can impart 172 Mpa during its shape change at a tunable transition temperature ranging from -180-300 deg;C. The shape change can be activated by resistive heating requiring only ~ 1 Watt. The conformal packaging of the SMARD actuators delivers the 50 kW solar array with packaging and weight efficiencies up to 60 kW/m3 and 180 W/kg.In comparison to other smart material actuators ndash; such as Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) ceramic piezoelectric actuators being investigated by Dynovas for 1-10 kW solar array ndash; the shape memory alloy Nitinol delivers 20+ times the strain and force. The increased force/strain will increase the survivability of SMARD and allow it to be applied to higher curvature geometries such as lenticular and triangular bi-stable composite booms. Relative to motors, Nitinol eliminates the potential to bind in the presence of dust/temperature changes, at 12% the volume and 20% the mass. Lastly, SMARD provides a bolt-on capability to a successful 10 kW array from VSAT that could expand the arrayrsquo;s capacity to 50 kW. VSAT will address many of the challenges associated with the 10 m stand-off, positioning, sun tracking, leveling, etc. If possible, it is ideal to re-use that technology instead of redesigning an entire 50 kW array. As such, the SMARD technology provides a direct drop in for the deploying boom OR can be attached to the ends of the deploying booms to extend out rigid transverse booms that allow additional wings of the array system to deploy.