SBIR-STTR Award

Space Qualified, Low Cost Compact Disk Data Storage/Retrieval System
Award last edited on: 3/28/2002

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : AF
Total Award Amount
$848,223
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
AF00-055
Principal Investigator
David J Carroll

Company Information

Airex Corporation

15 Lilac Lane
Somersworth, NH 03878
   (603) 841-2040
   connect@airex.comwithapresencein
   www.airex.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 01
County: Strafford

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2000
Phase I Amount
$99,783
Recent advances in electromagnetic technology clearly lend themselves to application in space-based data storage/retrieval systems. Commercial data storage systems provide low cost, long-life operation and strong logic/control systems, but employ mechanical bearings that limit their resistance to shock and life expectancy. A similar system ruggedized for space via integrated magnetic motor/bearing technology and combined with a flexible control interface system to handle format conversions would offer dramatic improvement in on-board space systems. The vacuum and temperature extremes of space provide significant technical challenges to mechanical bearings, which are completely unable to provide any vibration isolation to sensitive read/write heads or optics. This proposal will prove that bearing functions can be coupled with motor functions in single electromagnetic devices that exhibit longer life with no maintenance at a lower cost. Additional benefits include significant improvement in disk drive system performance, lower weight and vibration isolation potential that does not exist in other technologies. Airex Corporation has, in recent SBIR efforts, demonstrated the viability of integral motor-bearing technology. Airex has also shown that integral motor-bearings point the way to highly reliable, low power, lubricant free, and long life motion platforms. Such functional sophistication can expand performance in commercial or military space-borne platforms.

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2001
Phase II Amount
$748,440
Recent advances in electromagnetic technology clearly lend themselves to application in space-based data storage/retrieval systems. Commercial data storage systems provide low cost, long-life operation and strong logic/control systems, but employ mechanical bearings that limit their resistance to shock and life expectancy. A similar system ruggedized for space via integrated magnetic motor-bearing technology and combined with a flexible control interface system to handle format conversions would offer dramatic improvement in on-board space systems. The vacuum and temperature extremes of space provide significant technical challenges to mechanical bearings, which are completely unable to provide any vibration isolation to sensitive read/write heads or optics. This proposal will prove that bearing functions can be coupled with motor functions in single electromagnetic devices that exhibit longer life with no maintenance at a lower cost. Additional benefits include significant improvement in disk drive system performance, lower weight and vibration isolation potential that does not exist in other technologies. Airex Corporation has, in recent SBIR efforts, demonstrated the viability of integral motor-bearing technology. Airex has also shown that integral motor-bearings point the way to highly reliable, low power, lubricant free, and long life motion platforms. Such functional sophistication can expand performance in commercial or military space-borne platforms.

Keywords:
Magnetic Bearing, Data Storage/Retrieval, Digital Compact Disk, Low-Cogging Motor, Linear Motor, Motor-Bearing, Head Positioning, Dc Brushless