Research Team: BUT

Brno University of Technology (BUT) consistently achieves acclaimed results in areas such as the development of sensors, satellite communication systems, devices for space applications, technologies and applications in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, as well as in research on the solar corona, satellite data processing, image processing, and space photography.

BUT occupies a leading position, for instance, in the research of space tribology, a field in which Professor Hartl's team has already successfully implemented applications in space projects. Space tribology is dedicated to the development of technical solutions that ensure the reliability of the moving parts of devices in space, such as spacecraft, satellites, or space stations. This discipline encompasses, for example, ensuring the reliable deployment of solar panels and antennas, ensuring the reliable function of robotic arms, including their lubrication. Mechanical failures of these components under the extreme conditions of space, such as due to overload or vibrations, can lead to the thwarting of massive investments and considerable human effort.

Habitat technologies for extreme environments and manned space flights represent another significant research direction at the BUT. A pivotal moment in this research was the creation of a self-deploying habitat, developed by the team of Dr. Šálený and Dr. Doule, and the provision of the first prototype of this habitat for the Space Studies Program 2012, organized by the International Space University at the Florida Institute of Technology in the USA. Currently, BUT focuses on researching technologies for measuring and evaluating cognitive and physiological responses of the human organism. This research was conducted within the ESA SPARK ICARUS ARMOR project, which also involved Czech backup astronaut Aleš Svoboda. It utilized an entirely new set of cognitive tests developed at the University of Pennsylvania for high-performance NASA astronauts. A pivotal contribution of the Czech research team was the integration of a unique perspiration rate sensor, developed by Professor Hubálek's team, and the application of an innovative approach to the analysis of small data sets using uncertainty quantification method supported by artificial intelligence from the team at UptimAI s.r.o., founded and led by Dr. Kubíček, a BUT alumnus.

Coordination of the university's space research activities, Technology research with significant interdisciplinary overlap

Ing. Vratislav Šálený, Ph.D

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Energy Institute

I have been actively engaged in research and development of technologies for space applications since 2010. My primary areas of expertise include habitat technologies for extreme environments, innovative liquid rocket engines, and the integration of artificial intelligence with the analysis of small data sets. The experience gained from commercial research and development projects for the European Space Agency and its key industrial partners, such as Avio S.p.A., Sener Aeroespacial S.A., Thales Alenia Space UK Limited, and others, I am prepared to dedicate to the benefit of university space projects. Considering my extensive entrepreneurial history prior to joining the university, I place significant emphasis on the economic, legal, and commercial aspects of project collaborations among all involved parties. Among the projects to which I have significantly contributed are the following: S.H.E.E. - Self-deployable habitat for extreme enviroments, EU FP7 Project No. 312747, International Space University; VEGA-E Upper Stage Engine and LPM Valves Design, Contract No. C116193 ,Avio S.p.A.; ICARUS ARMOR, ESA Spark Funding Contract No. 2022-ESA-TCCZ-001, UptimAI s.r.o.

High-Speed Communication Technologies

doc. Ing. Tomáš Götthans, Ph.D

Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Department of Radio Electronics

Facing the growing need for advanced high-speed communication technologies, the exploration and development within high-frequency communication systems have emerged as pivotal for the triumph of space missions. In partnership with my research team, my expertise lies in the thorough analysis and creation of high-frequency circuits, antennas, methodologies for signal processing, and radar technologies, all tailored for the unique demands of the space environment.

Our endeavor is directed towards crafting novel designs and refining high-frequency circuits across an array of uses, such as radio broadcasts, radar operations, and satellite communications.

This initiative has led to our involvement in various research and development ventures with the European Space Agency (ESA). Noteworthy projects include engineering a compact bi-directional amplifier suited for drones, innovating a fully adaptable RF linearizer for high-capacity amplifiers, and developing a sophisticated radio receiver and transmitter for drones functioning in the L-band, alongside the MakerSpace project. A case in point is our partnership with the Observatoire de Paris on building a radio spectrometer designed for the millimeter-wave spectrum, adept at identifying oxygen molecules.

Through my role at the Brno University of Technology, I've established the Space Apps master's program, offering students an unparalleled chance to dive into systems engineering with applications in space-oriented projects.

Microsensors and Smart Electronics

Prof. Ing. Jaromír Hubálek, Ph.D

CEITEC BUT

Smart solutions utilizing modern microelectronic sensors on chips have become widely prevalent in mobile and wearable electronics. The development of new sensors that have not yet been utilized in the areas of activity and health monitoring is our field of interest. We possess our own system that works with available wearable sensors used in telemedicine, but we are also developing sensors that do not yet exist in the market and are testing them alongside those already available. Thus, we are creating a comprehensive system capable of collecting parameters that previously could not be monitored from a human. We have already conducted studies with athletes under physical stress and have also performed tests under cognitive and thermal stress for the ESA SPARK ICARUS ARMOR project, which was also participated in by the future astronaut Aleš Svoboda.

Space and Vacuum Tribology

Prof. Ing. Martin Hartl, Ph.D

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Machine and Industrial Design

With the increasing complexity, ambition, and duration of space missions, coupled with the extreme environmental conditions, the research and development of motion mechanisms become a pivotal aspect in ensuring the success of space flights. In collaboration with my scientific team, I am dedicated to analyzing and developing tribological components and mechanisms suitable for use in the space environment. Our work focuses on the study of interactions between moving surfaces in various components of gears, actuators, motors, etc. We investigate surface interactions at all levels – from atoms to entire assemblies. The primary goal of our research is to understand the behavior of lubricants under vacuum conditions and at extreme temperatures, followed by optimization aimed at minimizing friction losses while maximizing the durability and reliability of these components. We have contributed to research and development projects for ESA (Lubricant Evaporation Control in Space Environment), Honeywell (Rotary Actuator for Space Applications, Pointing Assembly for Optical Intersatellite Communication), Frentech Aerospace (Automated Application of Lubricant for Space Tribological Components), and Thales Alenia Space (TVAC Testing Campaign of Potentiometer for Geostationary Communication Satellite).