Uncrewed Systems Technology 044 l Xer Technolgies X12 and X8 l Lidar sensors l Stan UGV l USVs insight l AUVSI Xponential 2022 l Cobra Aero A99H l Accession Class USV l Connectors I Oceanology International 2022

14 Platform one June/July 2022 | Uncrewed Systems Technology GS Yuasa Lithium Power (GYLP) is developing a small but scalable battery for space systems (writes Nick Flaherty). The small form factor lithium-ion battery has completed the Preliminary Design Review and is now moving to the critical design phase. GYLP’s design integrates the recently qualified LSE12x lithium-ion cell  developed by GS Yuasa Technology. The flexible design accommodates 16 to 96 cells with a power of 720 to 4320 Wh and can be electrically configured to support both low- and high-voltage bus applications. More autonomy and the use of neural network accelerators is driving up the power requirements in space systems. GS Yuasa has already flown 4.4 MWh of lithium-ion energy storage into space, and has also introduced a 12 Ah cell. The smaller cells and batteries will be fully configuration controlled and built to AS9100 aerospace-quality standards with an auditable manufacturing and change record. This avoids the need to repeat the full qualification and life performance test for each new production lot. Developers can verify that the materials and processes used remain consistent from lot to lot, reducing programme testing costs. The next stage will be the completion of the critical design review of a qualification model with a 72-cell configuration wired as an 8S9P battery. This has nine parallel groups of eight cells in series providing 108 Ah and 3240 Wh at 30 V. The configuration incorporates all the manufacturing and inspection processes present on smaller and larger configurations. A full qualification test suite including environmental survivability is planned. If a cell fails, each eight-cell string can be isolated in the battery through a commandable relay. Battery telemetry enables a satellite operator to detect the event and issue a command to clear or isolate the fault. The design approach for the 72-cell battery aims to provide the smallest pack size with robust survivability for launching on a rocket. Thermally, the battery is designed to reject heat by conduction through a baseplate tied to the host vehicle’s thermal management system. The connector interface is flexible and can be tailored to match each vehicle’s specifications. Battery monitoring and available telemetry will also be tailorable, with options for temperature monitoring points, individual cell or mid- and full- stack voltage reporting, as well as redundant heater options. The battery design includes provisions to mitigate propagation of a thermal runaway event and to collect any material that comes out. GYLP has recently been awarded a US patent for systems and methods relating to effluent containment. Countdown starts for cells Space systems Vector has developed the first Ethernet switch for driverless car designs that uses the safety-critical AutoSar standard software (writes Nick Flaherty). The veSwitch software runs on the Brightlane switches from Marvell, and follows the AutoSar methodology with respect to model definition, distribution and component development. By shifting significant parts of the networking stack to the switch, this frees up resources in the central controller for other tasks. Having the AutoSar software in the switch also allows security functions such as firewalling and MACsec to be implemented closer to the network, reducing the attack surface. Ethernet switches are usually initialised and controlled by a microcontroller in the ECU. However, these implementations are reaching the limit in terms of controller performance to cope with the rising number of Ethernet ports. Car designers are shifting the networking- related functions to Ethernet switches, but these use proprietary software configured using proprietary tools. The AutoSar workflow has been used by developers for years and provides tested, qualified software that can be reused for comms, network management and diagnostics on the switch. Functions such as the Precision Time Protocol, network management, the SOME/IP Protocol and parts of the diagnostics can also be shifted from the microcontroller to the switch. Vector plans to make future releases of veSwitch available as part of the ISO 20262 standard. AutoSar Ethernet switch Driverless cars Schematic of Vector’s veSwitch