Novium Designs

Axiom Space

Active Common Berthing Mechanism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Berthing_Mechanism

One of the main projects I was assigned to at Novium was an update to the active common berthing mechanism from the original ISS for Axiom's new station. It involved a lot of research of legacy documentation and updating with modern COTS hardware where available, and developing new systems where documentation wasn't sufficient. Additionally, in order to minimize the need for space walks, there was a good bit of work to be done adding new functionality.

Other Axiom Projects

Payload Platform

One of the other major projects Novium handles for Axiom is the payload platform, which has a similar function to the exposed facility on the Japanese experiment module currently in orbit. In practice it would be a module interfacing via the common berthing mechanism for power and coolant. I worked on this in its early stages making concepts to adapt MDA's SORI interface to allow for the use of a cold plate for heat transfer between any payloads and the module. It also had to fit in a small launch volume, so there was a good bit of concept work to expand the module once in orbit.

Actuated Valve

This was a great little project combining mostly COTS components into an electrically actuated propulsion valve. The engineering work was done by the time I started with the company, and I was involved in getting the production details and documentation ironed out.

Sensor Fusion Helmet

This headset/helmet incorporated an EEG headset and ultrasound emitters/sensors for purposes that were altogether esoteric and arcane to me, but it certainly was cool. The ultrasound sensors needed to be adjustable for fit around EEG probes, and the whole setup was fitted with motion capture targets to relate everything kinematically to the wearer. I had a ton of fun with this project and discovered http://humanshape.org/ as a source for humanoid models.

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