Space
The objective was to design, study and characterize the atmospheric sub-system of a Plant Control Unit and its processes related to crop growth. The atmosphere of the plant-related environment had to be homogeneous and meet the plants’ requirements.
The atmospheric system has the goal to accommodate the plant shoots during the culture till the harvesting, in a closed controlled and automated environment. The requirements established by plant scientists of the University of Blaise Pascal determined the optimal conditions for light, evapotranspiration of leaves, temperature and relative humidity for crops such as potatoes, soybeans and durum wheat.
The AtSSE concept innovation includes:
1. Multiple system:
2. Limited size of the system
EnginSoft has previously participated as a partner in other ESA life support system projects. The company’s engineering background has resulted in a higher level of involvement in ongoing projects where it now plays a coordinating role with direct design involvement with ESTEC (European Space Technological Center) scientists. In this specific project EnginSoft worked on the full control of the air management and flexible air management (distribution system) in order to create an optimal growth environment with T, RH and contaminant control.
ENGINSOFT SPA, NTNU - NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, POLYTECHNIQUE MONTRÉAL, SHERPA ENGINEERING, ULB - UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES, UGENT - UNIVERSITEIT GENT, UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
Funding Scheme ESA | Call identifier Programme MELiSSA - Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative
24 months
2016 - 2017
EnginSoft SpA
Lorenzo Bucchieri
7
Some of our competences in research and technology transfer
Research project
The ForZDM project developed and demonstrated tools to support the rapid implementation of Zero-Defect Manufacturing solutions in industry, and to design more competitive and robust multi-stage manufacturing systems.
Research project
The final goal of the project is to define a technology solution to repair metal components. End users require an automated or semi-automated solution for mounting a part of partially unknown shape into a machine, measuring the relevant part of its surface in 3D and automatically generating a repair program to restore it to the desired shape.
Research project
RLW is emerging as a promising joining technology for sheet metal assembly due to benefits on several fronts including reduced processing time, (50-75%) and decreased factory floor footprint (50%), reduced environmental impact through energy use reduction (60%), and providing a flexible process base for future model introduction or product change.