ÉireComposites to Develop Disruptive Space Technology
Introducing the newly funded Freeform-OPTIX
Consortium: mBryonics, ÉireComposites, University of Galway, Irish Manufacturing Research
Funding Body: Disruptive Technology & Innovation Fund (DTIF)
Funding Amount: €4.1 million
Aim: Manufacturing freeform optics for the space industry, to increase communication speed and security from orbit.
Advanced optics solutions are utilised for satellite communications and are backed up with photonics for high data processing rates. Freeform optics allow better optical performance, higher degrees of miniaturisation and lower complexity optical systems. Thanks to disruptive technologies like these, the advanced optics solutions market is growing quickly; however, there are currently barriers to volume manufacturing.
The Freeform-OPTIX project is striving to solve this. A strong Irish consortium has been set up, with mBryonics as lead, and ÉireComposites, University of Galway and Irish Manufacturing Research as partners.
Mbryonics will leverage its speciality optical manufacturing skills, ÉireComposites will provide large-scale carbon-fibre manufacturing capabilities, and University of Galway and Irish Manufacturing Research will conduct research in relevant areas to ensure the project is a success. This impressive group will bring innovation and precision manufacturing of freeform optics to in-factory demonstration maturity, refining communication, and dramatically boosting the space industry in the West of Ireland.
Mbryonics focuses on advanced manufacturing methods for precision optics and high reliability applications. The company has spent the past 8 years developing its product portfolio for the space communications sector, working with key industry and manufacturing stakeholders, and building up its expertise in the area of photonics, freeform optics, and composite materials.
University of Galway’s Advanced and Sustainable Manufacturing and Materials Engineering (ASMME) research team works on a range of material, process and product innovation projects, while the Applied Optics Group (AOG) has a special focus on adaptive optics, optical metrology, and imaging.
Irish Manufacturing Research is a non-profit RO delivering manufacturing solutions to Irish companies to make Ireland a world leader in advanced manufacturing operations for SMEs, indigenous export companies and for multinational corporations. IMR has a broad range of specialised skill sets centred around Data Analytics, Industry 4.0 AI, AR/VR, Robotics, Additive Manufacturing, Machining, Energy Efficiency, and the Circular Economy.
