Grants and Contributions

Not a Project (Mandated or Core Funding)

Light detection and ranging (lidar) sensors are essential tools used for a variety of tasks such as terrestrial topographic mapping, navigation and docking in space, and landings on planets or asteroids.

Teledyne has proposed to develop a compact array sensor. The improved lidar system will reduce the size and weight of the equipment, while increasing the range, coverage rate, and resolution of mapping technologies.

A light detection and ranging (lidar) 3D imaging sensor uses lasers to produce representations of an environment or object. Lidar is crucial for robotic navigation technologies. A small, low-cost, lighting-immune 3D sensor is highly desired for potential future planetary rover missions.

Neptec is proposing the development of a next-generation miniaturized lidar platform which addresses customer needs and future trends in both terrestrial and space markets. This will be accomplished through the manufacture and testing of two mini lidar prototypes, one focusing on performance and readiness for flight, and the other prioritizing miniaturization over performance. These projects will leverage Neptec's experience and expertise in developing lidar systems for space, using the successful TriDAR as a foundation for the proposed architecture.

With advances in miniaturization of electronics, new materials and new manufacturing methods, significant space missions that were once the exclusive domain of large spacecraft can now be performed using spacecraft that are one-tenth the size. One factor still limits the types of missions that these new small and nimbler spacecraft can perform: the lack of significant propulsion that is safe, affordable and easy to integrate.

Continuum Aerospace, with partners Canadore College and the University of Waterloo, are leveraging expertise in new rocket propulsion technologies, direct metal laser sintering 3D printing, and enhanced computational modelling to develop a new thruster system using non-toxic, easy-to-handle propellants which is small enough to fit these smaller spacecraft designs. This thruster system will be the first of its kind in Canada, and will provide Canadian spacecraft designers and mission planners with the ability to undertake new types of missions at a lower cost with enhanced thrust.

Understanding how physiological signals behave in extreme conditions could lead to monitoring systems that would improve the health and safety of astronauts during future long-duration exploration-class missions. A wearable monitoring system would serve as a constant diagnostic tool that could detect meaningful physiological changes and inform the user.

The objective of this project is to investigate the feasibility of developing a wearable monitoring platform for extreme environments and to collect a physiological data set to form a baseline for a broad array of contexts. The development of such monitoring technologies would not only change how the space domain deals with the health and safety of astronauts, but could also transform sectors on Earth such as medical care, defence and aviation.

The Intelligent Path Planner (IPP) allows for heterogeneous data sets to be aggregated in real time, enabling rovers to learn as they drive. The IPP uses the information it has gathered to influence the path it plans, while also adapting the path based on the terrain encountered. Machine learning teaches the IPP to associate different terrains with performance levels.