NASA AND SPACEWARD FOUNDATION AWARD PRIZE MONEY FOR SUCCESSFUL WIRELESS POWER DEMONSTRATION
WASHINGTON — NASA has awarded $900,000 in prize money to a Seattle company that successfully demonstrated new wireless energy beaming technology which could one day be used to help power a “space elevator.”
LaserMotive Beaming Appratus
LaserMotive of Seattle was awarded the money after its performance in the Power Beaming Challenge competition, which was a demonstration of wireless power transmission that enabled a robotic device to climb a vertical cable. The competition was held Nov. 4-6 at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif. The Spaceward Foundation of Mountain View, Calif., manages the competition for NASA’s Centennial Challenges program.
To win a prize, teams had to develop a power transmission system and robotic climber that could reach a height of 3,280 feet. Teams that reached the top share in a total purse of $2 million, based on their vertical speed and payload mass.
LaserMotive’s average speed on their best of several successful climbs was 8.7 mph over a four minute period. By exceeding the average speed of 4.5 mph and being the only team to reach the top of the cable, LaserMotive claimed the entire $900,000 prize for that level. Teams had to exceed an average speed of approximately 11 mph to qualify for a share of the remaining prize purse of $1.1 million. That amount will remain available for the next Power Beaming competition.
NASA is interested in power-beaming technology for a variety of
purposes including remotely powering rovers and instruments on the
moon. On Earth, the technology might supply communities with power
following natural disasters. There also are potential applications
for power beaming for airships, satellites and space transportation,
including the space elevator concept.
LaserMotive was competing with two other teams, the Kansas City Space Pirates and the USST team from South Bend, Ind. Although they did not post prize-winning performances, the other teams kept the contest outcome in doubt up until the final moments.
“I have watched these teams steadily improve their designs since we
began the challenge in 2005 and the sophistication of the systems
that they demonstrated this week is impressive by any standard.” said
Ben Shelef of the Spaceward Foundation.
A vertical “racetrack” was created for the competition by suspending a cable from a helicopter flying 4,300 feet overhead. This arrangement, along with the high-power laser systems, provided a unique and unprecedented testing environment.
“The kilometer-high vertical cable system established for this
competition was something that had never been done before and is a
remarkable accomplishment in itself. The Spaceward Foundation and
their partners, along with our hosts at NASA Dryden, deserve a lot of
credit for their creativity and determination.” said Andrew Petro,
Centennial Challenge program manager.
The Power Beaming Challenge is one of six Centennial Challenges
managed by NASA’s Innovative Partnership Program. NASA’s Centennial Challenges program’s goals are to drive progress in aerospace technology that is of value to NASA’s missions; encourage participation of independent teams, individual inventors, student groups and private companies of all sizes in aerospace research and development; and find innovative solutions to technical challenges through competition and cooperation.
Official results, as well as video and photography, are available at:
http://www.SpaceElevatorGames.org
For more information on Centennial Challenges, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/cc_home.html
For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761
sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 09-261
Related posts:
- NASA and X Prize announce winners of lunar lander challenge WASHINGTON — NASA will award $1.65 million in prize money...
- Teams win at NASA National Lunar Robotics competition MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. — Nineteen teams pushed their robot competitors...
- NASA to offer Space Shuttle artifacts NASA has issued a press release in which they are...
- NASA to offer Zero-G testing opportunities WASHINGTON — NASA has announced opportunities to test emerging technologies...
- Construction of Spaceport America in NM continues The world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport is taking shape in...