Our team and mission

The Mechanisms Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research and development (R&D) in the fields of space mechanisms (such as for deployment and pointing or hold-down and release, solar array drives, and reaction wheels), tribology, pyrotechnics, and space mechanical systems for satellites and launchers.

You are encouraged to visit the ESA website: https://www.esa.int/

Field(s) of activity/research for the traineeship

Microvibration is a design driver for high performance science and Earth observation missions. Better performing isolation systems could be used, either to isolate noise sources (typically mechanisms) or full payloads. In recent years, new isolation system technologies have been assessed. 

In particular, a new semi-active isolation system has been developed. The design includes 2 DOF collinear struts using electromagnetic shunt dampers with a negative resistance circuit for improved damping performance. These struts are built into a carefully selected hexapod configuration. To ensure the struts only see forces along their operational axis, two joints on top of the struts connect them to the hexapod. The entire design only uses compliant mechanisms, i.e. there are no tribological components creating friction losses or wear. The resulting system has a relative low mass, only uses a few watts of power, and acts as a fully passive system without any active control. The predicted performance of the full system corroborated by the first test results at strut level show this is a breakthrough technology that can enable future science and Earth observation missions, either by vastly improving the performance or simplifying the architecture.

You will continue the development of this isolation technology by further iterating on existing hardware and simulation models. Furthermore, new versions of the design may be developed, built and tested.

In particular, your research activities will be to: 

• conduct additional performance tests on the existing full breadboard, including tests using realistic noise sources such as reaction wheels.
• conduct performance testing in a thermal or TVAC environment, either at full breadboard or strut level.
• test the magnetic performance of the existing design.
• perform optimisation studies using improved multi-body simulation models to determine optimal tuning of flexure stiffness, coil parameters, negative resistance circuit parameters, strut length, flexure spacing, etc.
• update a mechanical design based on the outcome of the optimisation process, also implementing lessons learned from the current design, such as mechanical alignment. Explore new flexure membrane geometries to achieve individually tuned axial and lateral stiffness of membranes.
• produce a new version of a strut design for performance testing in ambient and TVAC conditions.
• assess new functionality, such as passive compensation, to achieve a more uniform performance over the thermal range.
• assess the performance of the technology for a wide range of applications.

Technical competencies

Behavioural competencies

Result Orientation
Operational Efficiency
Fostering Cooperation
Relationship Management
Continuous Improvement
Forward Thinking 

Education

You should have recently completed or be close to completing a PhD in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
Preference will be given to applications submitted by candidates who have received their PhD within the past five years. 

Additional requirements

•    experience with space mechanisms/mechanisms building blocks and related subsystems, as well as knowledge of space tribology and compliant mechanisms.
•    experience in the design, development and testing of mechanisms for space or aeronautical applications, and knowledge of simulation software (such as MATLAB, Simulink, COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS Maxwell, MSC ADAMS or LabVIEW) would be considered an asset. 
•    thorough prior knowledge of the semi-active isolation system using electromagnetic shunt dampers with a negative resistance circuit for improved damping performance. This technology has been published widely.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.