SBIR Phase II: High Power Microwave Robot for Industrial Extra-Terrestrial Resource Extraction

这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛影响是在未来20年改善太空探索。世界各国和公司正在以越来越快的速度规划和执行新的太空任务。一种新的空间生态系统正在发展，特别是在月球方面。计划在未来10年内进行30多次登月任务。这项技术的重点是开发一种能够将微波束精确地投射到月球岩石上的天线。这项创新将产生商业影响，加强月球表面的挖掘和隧道建设，建造着陆台、生活区，并以比其他方法高40%以上的效率生产水和燃料。此外，这项技术也有望改善地球上的采矿。随着社会从化石燃料向电力基础设施转型，预计到2040年，对关键电池矿物的需求将增加6倍。这项创新可以将矿物加工流程简化50%，帮助满足传统方法无法满足的日益增长的需求。总而言之，这个项目是关于改变月球探测和地球采矿，实现空间探索和从化石燃料过渡。这个SBIR第二阶段项目开发和验证微波天线系统的关键硬件子组件，其特点是紧凑的高功率元件阵列同步运行。这种设计的独特之处在于，它能够在天线前面的一段相当长的距离内增加微波束的强度。光束通过直接向岩石深处注入热量来削弱岩石，这将使岩石处理更快、更节能，从而简化矿物提取。天线硬件本身暴露在显著较低的电磁压力下，使其能够在极端环境中运行。第二阶段项目的关键任务是验证天线阵列的可制造性；通过波束形成、低功率反射测试来确认其能力；以及测试高精度聚焦和引导波束的能力。详细的电磁测量将全面描述天线的特性，并确认其在近场辐射方向图、交叉和共极化、反射功率、波束形成能力、天线效率以及在所需和可操纵的焦点内产生高电场密度的能力等方面的高功率和低功率性能。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to improve space exploration over the next two decades. New space missions are being planned and executed at an increasing rate by countries and companies around the world. A novel space ecosystem is developing, especially with respect to the Moon. Over 30 lunar missions are planned for the next 10 years. The focus of this technology is to develop an antenna capable of projecting microwave beams into lunar rock with pinpoint accuracy. This innovation will have the commercial impact of enhancing digging and tunneling on the lunar surface creating landing pads, living quarters, and producing water and fuel with over 40% greater efficiency than other methods. Furthermore, this technology holds promise for improving mining on Earth too. As society transitions from a fossil fuel to an electric infrastructure, the demand for critical battery minerals is projected to increase 6 times by 2040. The innovation can streamline the processing of minerals by 50%, helping to meet this increasing demand that conventional approaches cannot meet. In summary, this project is about transforming lunar exploration and Earth mining, and enabling space exploration and the transition from fossil fuels.This SBIR Phase II project develops and validates the critical hardware subcomponents of the microwave antenna system, which are characterized by a compact array of high-power elements operating in phase. The distinctiveness of the design is its ability to increase the intensity of the microwave beam at a significant distance in front of the antenna. The beam weakens rock by directly injecting heat deep into it, which will simplify mineral extraction by making rock processing faster and more energy efficient. The antenna hardware itself is exposed to significantly lower electromagnetic stresses, allowing it to operate in extreme environments. Key Phase II project tasks are verifying the manufacturability of the antenna array; confirming its capabilities using testing on beam-forming, low-power reflection; and testing the capability to focus and steer a beam with high precision. Detailed electromagnetic measurements will fully characterize the antenna and confirm its high power and low power performance in the areas of the near-field radiation pattern, cross and co-polarization, reflected power, beam forming capability, antenna efficiency, and its ability to generate a high electric field density within a desired and steerable focal point.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.