ESA Technology Transfer Success Story - Space-style control rooms for terrestrial industries [Nov/2021]
Automating complex system coordination, as used for satellite
constellations, have proven very valuable in space for efficient and fast
outposts organisation. Control room constructor Ergonomics Applied to
OPerationsS (EATOPS) and ESA are now cooperating to implement similar control
rooms for terrestrial industries. For this, automated code generation is
implemented to centralize oversight for offshore wind farms, natural gas
productions and crude oil extractions.
This spin-off enables a recognition of problems ahead of time
and eliminates risk of errors. The generated code simultaneously enables the
creation of a digital twin without significantly cost changes. It furthermore
reduces 10,000 programming hours to hundreds and lead to five times higher
EATOPS turnover, according to founder Alexander Van Damme without giving
specific numbers. However, the benefits are expected to expand in the future
with the current trend towards full automation and artificial intelligence (AI)
in the industry. Also, an expansion to other areas is considered, for example to
renewable energies in offshore windfarms.
EATOPS also applies the knowledge for new projects at NASA’s
Artemis mission This spin-in to the industry shows that technology transfer
projects work both ways and can create direct benefits back for the space
sector. For the automated NASA mission 2022 to the Moon, the seven control
panels are designed and developed by EATOPS utilizing this technology.
This initiative is led by ESA's Technology Transfer and Patent Management Unit (TTPO) in ESA's Directorate for Commercialisation, Industry & Procurement. The Unit is guiding start-ups, entrepreneurs and European businesses in developing spin-offs for ESA's space technologies. More recent successful transfers can be accessed at: Technology Transfer - Funded Projects. For more information, please contact patent@esa.int.
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