Month: October 2023

Earlier this year, European Space Agency (ESA) asked for innovative ideas for new mission concepts enabled by CubeSat swarms. The open call for ideas was run by the Preparation element of ESA’s Basic Activities through the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP). The call was answered no less than 61 times. Seven ideas were selected based on an evaluation by a panel of ESA experts, who scored the ideas on their novelty, technological feasibility, and the relevant experience of the submission team.

Sirin Orbital Systems AG is thrilled to have been selected in this campaign with its 16U4SBSP mission concept, “a CubeSat swarm beaming down solar power”; a project developed in cooperation with TU Delft in the Netherlands and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.

Read full article on ESA website:
_{https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/Discovery_and_Preparation/Seven_ways_to_use_a_CubeSat_}swarm

16U4SBSP project webpage on ESA platform:
_{https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/10/A_CubeSat_swarm_beaming_down_solar_power}

_{See related post:
https://sirin-os.com/2023/09/13/winning-esa-campaign-innovative-mission-concepts-enabled-by-swarms-of-cubesats/}

Sirin Orbital Systems AG filed a patent application for an “AI-based vision system for autonomous navigation to space targets”, an invention generally applicable to the field of visual servoing systems for On-Orbit Services (OOS) such as Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions. The intended smart camera uses at an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model to provide target position and orientation information for autonomous navigation to this target in space. This invention is the outcome of an ESA-funded Study in cooperation with the Competence Centre Intelligent Sensors and Networks at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU).

A follow-on Early Technology Development activity for prototyping and technology readiness enhancement is envisaged.

_{Patent Priority Date: 05.10.2023
Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI), Bern}