The West Coast Solutions HBS (Hybrid Battery Supercapacitor) enables a new generation of high-power payloads on smallsats by providing >700W sustained power from a 1U (1000 cc) hybrid battery. Targeted applications include advanced propulsion technologies, lasercom, high data rate downlink transmitters, large array infrared sensors, and directed energy. TRL 5+ was achieved in the recently-completed Missile Defense Agency SBIR Phase II in which Applied Vibration, Applied Shock, Thermal Vacuum and EMI testing of a near-flight prototype was successfully completed. West Coast Solutions was recently awarded a Phase II SBIR Enhancement Program to extend on the prior Phase II SBIR to complete the design, build, test, and qualification of a prototype 1U (1000 cc) Hybrid Battery Supercapacitor (HBS).
- High-power-density battery for smallsats
- High reliability, radiation tolerant space design
- 150 Wh energy and >700W power in 1U form factor
- Cycle life > 30,000
- Scalable for higher energy and higher power
The company is also developing a Focal Plane Electronics (FPE) suite for JPL which consists of three separate modules: the analog Focal Plane Interface Electronics (FPIE), the FPIE Power Supply Unit (PSU), and the digital Interface Instrument Electronics (IIE). WCS has been tapped to produce and deliver four (4) complete suites of Engineering Models for Flat Sat testing and four (4) complete Flight Model suites, with all deliveries complete by early 2023.
- Analog focal plane electronics
- Precision, low noise focal plane electronics power supplies
- FPGA (RTG4)-enabled high speed data pipe
- Closed-loop payload heater control
- Payload power distribution
West Coast Solutions was hired by Aerospace Corporation to develop the control electronics for a novel, high-precision pointing mechanism for future USAF Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) missions. During the initial phase, WCS developed a “path-to-flight” brassboard with dual high-speed ADC channels, FPGA and firmware, and dual motor drive circuits. The fully-packaged radiation hard flight electronics will be developed in the future.
- OPIR pointing mirror control electronics
- Dual high-speed ADC, FPGA, and motor drives
- Design and prototype, including firmware
The firm’s partners at Creare have been developing cryocooler electronics since 2008. The Creare-WCS cryocooler collaboration began in 2015 and has now progressed through a series of successful NASA and DoD SBIR programs into multiple, active, flight programs, including the Hyperspectral Thermal Imager (HyTI) scheduled to launch in late 2022. WCS brings many decades of hands-on, space flight CCE experience to the strong Creare team, resulting in a combination that cannot be matched in terms of knowledge, experience, capability, and track record.
- Multi-year, Multi-program Creare-WCS collaboration
- High-performance, yet affordable CCE designs
- MCCE-TS (Tactical Space) for cost-sensitive, moderate duration space missions
- MCCE-RH (Radiation Hardened) for long-life strategic missions
- Tailorable options: active vibration control, input ripple filtering, and launch lock
