A contactless transfer device for power and data

This paper describes the initial development of a Contactless Transfer Device (CTD) for on-orbit applications. Target specifications called for the transfer of several hundred Watts of power, and several tens of digital data lines with a combined capacity of around 5 Mbps. The design accommodates a central axle or pole of up to 55 mm diameter, and may be used in an in-side-in or an in-side-out configuration. A matrix evaluation technique based upon paired comparison between grouped evaluation criteria is described, and is used to select the preferred technologies for contactless data and power transfer. A modulated sub-carrier capacitive technique is selected for data-transfer, and a rotating transformer for power-transfer. The electronic and mechanical aspects of the design and the build standard of the Breadboard Model are described.