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Objectives
The ARTES 5.1 project entitled Contactless Angular Sensors for Telecom Satellites Long Lifetime Mechanisms (ESTEC CONTRACT NO. AO/1-5373/07/NL/IA), studied the technological solutions available in the market for the potential implementation of a contact-less angular sensor for European telecommunication satellite applications, identifying the past problems with rotary sensors, the demanded industry specifications and the expected market for close to medium future applications.
This ARTES 5.2 project represents a further step by proposing the implementation of an Engineering Model of the contactless angular sensor breadboard developed in the previous project, effectively increasing its TRL and approaching future flight model implementations. Starting from identified specifications, the project covers all the aspects for the contactless angular sensor EM manufacturing and testing, including redesign, reliability studies, full implementation of the EM and complete testing campaign.
Plan
An EM has been built and tested with the developed test-bench. The next expected milestone is, after having analysed the obtained results, to adapt the sensor for a flight unit.
Current Status
A full implementation of a capacitively coupled angular sensor has been designed and manufactured, followed by an exhaustive test campaign. The sensor has not fulfilled all the specifications, the angular sensor EM showed an accuracy of 0.1 degree in contrast to the desired 0.01 degrees. Nevertheless, after carefully studying the results, design modifications have been identified that are expected to improve the performance of the sensor to be compliant to the specifications. This design update is planned for the next development activity.
