PCKA, Purdue Researchers Earn Boost From NASA
An Indiana company partnering with Purdue University researchers has received a second round of funding from NASA through its Small Business Technology Transfer program. West Lafayette-based PC Krause and Associates Inc. will receive up to $750,000 over the next four years to develop a component for "mission-critical" microgrids for the agency.
In a technical abstract, PCKA describes its Autonomous Power Controller as a part "capable of optimal generation and load scheduling, abnormal conditions and/or failure detection, and system restoration, while the local controllers monitor system components and pass sensor data to the centralized controller."
It says potential NASA-related applications could include deep space explorations, aeronautic flights and special human habitats where electric power system supervision is limited. PCKA says the underlying technology could be applied to almost any microgrid — non-terrestrial or terrestrial.
Twenty research and technology proposals were selected by NASA for phase two of the program and $15 million will be distributed to the 19 small business recipients. You can connect to more about the awards by clicking here.