WASHINGTON — Sedaro, a startup that develops digital engineering software, won a Space Force contract to display the usage of digital twins to design spacecraft.
The $1.5 million contract announced Aug. 22 is a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 award under the Orbital Prime program run by the U.S. Space Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Robbie Robertson, co-founder and CEO of Sedaro, said the corporate will use its cloud-based digital engineering software to design prototype spacecraft for missions often known as ISAM, short for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing.
Digital twins are models that replicate physical prototypes. The military is involved in using digital twins so buyers can tweak the design features of a satellite before they acquire actual hardware.
Modeling ISAM scenarios
For the 15-month project Sedaro is partnering with the tutorial organizations Space Dynamics Laboratory and Draper Labs. They are going to use Sedaro’s platform to model ISAM scenarios.
Robertson said Space Dynamics and Draper “will provide user perspectives to tell the design of latest features in Sedaro’s platform for modeling ISAM technology like robotic manipulators, cameras and sensors for targeting, docking mechanisms, and refueling ports.”
“Our goal is to develop digital twin software that may speed up and improve ISAM technology development and deployment — each commercially and for the U.S. Space Force,” said Robertson.
One among the goals of the Orbital Prime program is to seek out ways to cut back physical prototyping and testing, and as an alternative use digital tools that will be shared by developers and operators, he said.