| 04-M30-MP-2452 | Development of a Space-Ready Raspberry Pi for CubeSats Development of a Space-Ready Raspberry Pi for CubeSats | Entwicklung eines weltraumtauglichen Raspberry Pi für CubeSats This project aims at developing and building/modifying a Raspberry Pi 5 for use in LEO. The group will analyze differences between use on Earth and in space, identify (…) This project aims at developing and building/modifying a Raspberry Pi 5 for use in LEO. The group will analyze differences between use on Earth and in space, identify issues that need to be addressed, find suitable solutions and perform possible modifications to the Raspberry Pi as adding external systems, housing or further hardware.
Towards the end of the project the modifications are tested and validated. It might be possible to use professional testing equipment as a thermal-vacuum chamber and a shaker table.
Half of the group is required to have a Space Engineering or Space Science background in their studies. Knowledge of sensitive electronics, fail-safe programming and construction/design is an advantage. | Dr.-Ing. Benny Rievers |
| 04-M09-LT-P-2451 | Design, manufacturing and testing of a CFRP-tank for an experimental research rocket, which includes a contribution to the rocket’s structure ECTS: 12 MSc.SpaceEng, 15 MSc. PT The aim of the project is to design, manufacture and test a bi-functional CFRP structure for a rocket to be used in experiments at high altitudes. The structure shall (…) The aim of the project is to design, manufacture and test a bi-functional CFRP structure for a rocket to be used in experiments at high altitudes. The structure shall be used as a tank for Hydrogen or Oxygen plus part of the rocket’s outer structure.
The project team has to identify the loads and to specify the structure in the first step. The structure has to be designed on basis of the specification using FEM analysis for optimizing the CFRP-laminate. Some demonstrator-structures shall be manufactured using a filament-winding-machine. At the end of the project one of the demonstrator-structures will be loaded with pressure until burst. Finally the results shall be analysed, discussed and published. | Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. David May |
| 04-M30-MP-2451 | Capillary-fed electrolysers for space applications In 2022, a Nature Communications paper presented a new electrolyzer design using capillary forces. The authors published a 95% efficiency for their device in water (…) In 2022, a Nature Communications paper presented a new electrolyzer design using capillary forces. The authors published a 95% efficiency for their device in water splitting electrolysis, a record number. The main advantage of this device is the bubble free approach and feeding the cell in a controlled way by a capillary. With phase separation remaining an issue in microgravity experiments in combination with the capillary forces still working in space environment, this project surrounds the possibilities of applying the idea behind a capillary fed electrolyzer for space applications. The project will contain of a literature report and an oral presentation of the findings. | Prof. Dr. Katharina Brinkert |
| 04-M30-MP-2453 | As part of the project, a semi-autonomous robot is to be developed that masters the tasks of the "European Rover Challenge" (http://roverchallenge.eu). The focus is on (…) As part of the project, a semi-autonomous robot is to be developed that masters the tasks of the "European Rover Challenge" (http://roverchallenge.eu). The focus is on autonomous navigation and mapping in a fictitious Mars mission. The robot would be tested both in simulation and in reality. Depending on the requirements of the challenge, existing hardware and software of the DFKI Robotic Innovation Center can be used or newly developed (the exact tasks are always published only a few months before the start).
The tasks of the ERC were published in March, our team has already applied and successfully completed the first phases of the project as part of a systems engineering bachelor project. The students will perform tasks in the field of robotics, such as intelligent obstacle avoidance or interaction through a robotic arm with a control panel.
Objectives of the project:
• Understanding robotics as an interdisciplinary endeviour between electrical engineering, mechatronics and computer science
• Understanding of the principles and design and development of software for autonomous robots in space.
• Understanding of quality assurance measures to perform autonomous functions in the long term
• Application-driven, requirements-based development of robots, their control and operation in a dynamic environment
• Hardware / Software Co-Design
• Hands-on experience working with robotic systems in simulation and real-world scenarios that replicate the space context
• Practical experience in the field of software development and quality assurance with modern software development principles such as continuous integration and testing or hardware-in-the-loop
• Development of software under time-critical requirements
• Planning and implementation of competitions
• Learn to work in a team which is self organised
Implementation priorities are chosen by the project participants. | Frank Kirchner |
| 04-M30-MP-2454 | Crop Processing Equipment for Hypogravity: A Multifunctional Unit For long-term missions on extraterrestrial bodies, supplying the
crew with all necessary nutrition by shipments from Earth is
prohibitively expensive.
Instead, food crops (…) For long-term missions on extraterrestrial bodies, supplying the
crew with all necessary nutrition by shipments from Earth is
prohibitively expensive.
Instead, food crops will be grown locally, and processed in-situ.
Many of these staple foods, such as cereals, legumes and oil
crops, share similar processing steps post-harvest.
This project will explore the challenges that hypogravity and
spaceflight regulation pose to crop processing equipment, and how
a multifunctional processing unit for a diverse selection of crops
might overcome them. | Prof. Dr. Daniel Schubert |
