At the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering of NSTU NETI, they are working on a SPICE model of a converter for the spacecraft power supply system. Such a model will be needed when creating a digital twin. The operation of a spacecraft in space can be influenced by solar radiation, temperature differences, and other factors, and it is necessary to determine as many of these factors as possible here on Earth.
"The digital twin is an electronic copy of the device, the same processes are emulated in it, and they can be monitored in real time. It provides an opportunity to take a closer look at what is happening in the converter, debug the device, and eliminate possible defects even at the prototype stage. The converter is part of the spacecraft's power supply system and is needed to maintain a stable voltage in the space equipment. The development of the SPICE model is one of the steps towards creating a digital twin," said Maxim Dybko, Associate Professor of the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering at NSTU NETI, Candidate of Technical Sciences.
According to him, the SPICE technology itself has been used for a long time, but SPICE models began to be used in power electronics several years ago. The SPICE model is a computer equivalent of a device that simulates its operation and allows you to consider the processes that occur in the device. The use of modern technologies, such as artificial neural networks, allows you to adjust the parameters of the model so that they become closer to reality. The behavior of the model will be more real in various situations that may occur during the operation of the power supply system.
"In itself, the SPICE modeling of power electronics devices is not unique: the converter circuit is also known and is not new. However, the patented hybrid power module of the power supply system and the SPICE model itself are unique, which will ultimately consider its design features, which makes the development of such a model significant," Maxim Dybko added. In the near future, tests on laboratory samples are planned. With the help of measuring equipment placed on the sample, developers will look at what processes are occurring in it, compare it with what the model shows, and make the necessary adjustments so that the model is as accurate as possible. By the end of the year, when the SPICE model starts working, it will be possible to move on to the next stage - the creation of digital doubles.
