The NAVSPACE-H Project aims at the development of a completely Italian sensor useful for space navigation activities, a gyroscopic sensor based on hemispherical resonator (HRG), currently in TRL2, to be used for satellites and launchers.
HRG technology was introduced by Northrop Grumman Corporation with the Scalable Space Inertial Reference Unit (SSIRU) system. Northrop Grumman Italia, through a sector analysis, has verified the need to develop new products that meet the Technological Independence (ITAR free) to meet the demands of both private companies and space agencies. The Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS), inertial navigation and stabilization systems are the first three to emerge that meet the needs of the space sector for the launch and use of satellites, so it was decided to start this path with the study and development of HRG devices.
HRG (Hemispherical Resonator Gyro) gyroscopes are used as devices for satellite and aircraft navigation and also in other industrial fields. They consist of a small quartz hemisphere with dimensions of a few tens of millimeters, made with a precision of the order of nanometers to obtain an excellent balance of the instrument. This hemisphere, which has a quality factor of the order of 107, is put into vibration and the Coriolis force, induced by rotation, produces a gyroscopic effect that rotates the excited oscillation mode; thanks to appropriate capacitive sensors this rotation can be detected.
In addition to Northrop Grumman Italia are partners of the NAVSPACE-H program: the Italian Space Agency for the study of the parameters for the industrialization of the system and programming to make the technological demonstrator from TRL5 to TRL8 and dissemination activities; the Hypatia Research Consortium for the skills on thin film deposition and realization of resonator prototypes, for thermovacuum simulation tests and for the study of the structure shielding from both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation; ENEA will play the role of morphological, structural and dimensional characterization of the metallic thin films that will be used; the company Gelco S.p.A. will manage the design and development of the electronic system with particular attention to miniaturization and robustness with respect to radiation and will realize the prototypes of the electronic boards.
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