US 12,595,076 B2 · Multi-module laboratory satellites

Abstract

A system includes multi-module satellites designed to autonomously or semi-autonomously perform experiments in a space environment for investigators. Each multi-module satellite includes multiple testing modules each associated with a different investigator. Each testing module includes a testing computer that runs experiments. A main flight computer on the multi-module satellite communicates with the testing computers for each module, passing information between the testing computers and a main control system. To perform an experiment in a testing module, the multi-module satellite system collects and stores observation data from sensors of the testing module, controls a controller of the testing module to perform the experiment, transmits the observation data from the testing module to an application associated with the testing module via a main control system, and executes instructions receives from the application via the main control system by controlling the controller of the testing module based on the received instructions.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An multi-module laboratory satellite system comprising:

a plurality of lab benches, wherein each lab bench comprises:
an observation chamber within which an experiment is performed;
a controller comprising instruments for performing the experiment within the observation chamber;
and
a sensor configured to collect data describing the experiment performed within the observation chamber;
a communication device configured to communicate with a main control system;
a testing computer comprising a computer processing unit coupled to each of the plurality of lab benches;
and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the testing computer, cause the testing computer to:
collect and store observation data from a sensor of a lab bench;
control a controller of a lab bench to perform the experiment for the lab bench;
transmit observation data from a lab bench to an application associated with the lab bench via the main control system;
and
execute instructions received from an application associated with a lab bench via the main control system by controlling the controller of the lab bench based on the received instructions.

11 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

collect and store observation data from a sensor of a lab bench of an multi-module laboratory satellite system, wherein the multi-module laboratory satellite system comprises a plurality of lab benches, a communication device configured to communicate with a main control system, and a testing computer comprising a computer processing unit coupled to each of the plurality of lab benches, wherein each of the plurality of lab benches comprises:
an observation chamber within which an experiment is performed;
a controller comprising instruments for performing the experiment within the observation chamber;
and a sensor configured to collect data describing the experiment performed within the observation chamber;
control a controller of the lab bench to perform the experiment for the lab bench;
transmit observation data from the lab bench to an application associated with the lab bench via the main control system;
and execute instructions received from an application associated with a lab bench via the main control system by controlling the controller of the lab bench based on the received instructions.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-module laboratory satellites

Life of this patent

Multi-module laboratory satellites

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20