Our Products
ACTIVE SENSORS & LiDAR
The breadth of Neptec’s product offering in the field of Active Sensors and LiDAR is reflective of its long history in the design, development and supply of these devices. Our space heritage dates back to STS-71 in 1995 with the first flight of our Advanced Space Vision System (ASVS) product. Today, we offer laser, infraRed (IR) and visible light products for ranging, automated docking, inspection and navigation on manned and un-manned spacecraft, satellites of all sizes and rovers.
Our Active Sensors & LiDAR include:
CAMERAS
Neptec established its reputation in agile design, manufacture, installation and support of space vision systems through its work on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. This expertise is currently applied to both visible light and infrared imaging systems in support of rendezvous and proximity operations as well as rover navigation and localization. These cameras are designed to provide high quality images while operating in harsh environments (Low Earth Orbit and Mars) and are provided in low mass, low power configurations.
Our cameras include:
RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING SENSORS
Specifically designed for non-cooperative docking requiring high levels of autonomy, Neptec’s rendezvous and docking sensors provide maximum operational flexibility. These sensors can be adapted to dock with different targets and approach profiles even after launch. Our technology has been demonstrated in many laboratories around the World and tested on three Space Shuttle missions. Our TriDAR sensor system is now in service as the primary rendezvous and docking sensor for the Cygnus spacecraft on resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS).
Rendezvous and Docking Sensors include:
METROLOGY SENSORS
Neptec offers high accuracy measurement systems for relative positioning. From μm accuracy over 10s of meters to 10 mm accuracy over 10s of kms, our systems have seen application from on-board distortion correction of images, through debris ranging to formation flying of spacecraft. Neptec can offer solutions that run the gamut from LEO-based small satellites to GEO-based traditional satellites.
Metrology Sensors include:
OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS
Given their narrow transmission bandwidth and larger carrier frequency laser communication technologies are well suited to address the growing demand for increased data throughput in satellite communications. Neptec has been at the forefront of laser communications since 2009, working in collaboration with Canadian and European partners. With Canadian Space Agency (CSA) support, Neptec has recently embarked upon the development of a total system offering in this field which includes the spacecraft optical terminal (SOT) and the optical ground receiver (OGR).
Optical Communication products include:
MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Future human exploration of Space beyond low earth orbit must deal with a reduced and even non-existent opportunity for the quick return of a sick or injured crewmember back to Earth for medical treatment. Such isolation requires a change in medical support doctrine, away from telemedicine toward medical autonomy. Since articulating the Advanced Crew Medical System (ACMS) concept for the Canadian Space Agency in 2013 which defined the components needed to provide healthcare and wellness to astronauts on exploration class missions, Neptec has pursued specific developments of the concept including the On Astronaut Wireless Sensor System (OAWSS) and an Earth-based deployment of the Space Medicine Decision Support System (SMDSS).
Medical Systems include:
PLANETARY ROVERS & MOBILITY SYSTEMS
Neptec works with a team of leading experts and aerospace suppliers to design, develop and build lunar rovers for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Neptec has been providing rover and rover payload concepts and prototypes to the CSA since 2007. With sophisticated sensors, and guidance, navigation and control systems, Neptec rovers are capable of a variety of mission applications including terrain survey and mapping, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) drilling and sampling, and general planetary surface exploration. Neptec also designs and develops rover navigation software that, when integrated with 2D and 3D sensors, provides autonomous and semi-autonomous navigation capability.
Planetary Rovers & Mobility Systems include:
Image credit NASA (various) | Metrology Sensors Image credit Akihiro Ikeshita / JAXA