Novel Solution for Electrical Power Transmission Through a Rotating Interface

Moog Inc. Engineering, 2019-20

Liaison(s): Thomas Morgan-Witts ’18, Luis Viornery ’18, Brennan Carrizales
Advisor(s): Leah Mendelson
Students(s): Jessica Wolf (TL-S), Kyle Miller (TL-F), Ethan Greenberg (S), Nathan Sunbury (S), Crystal Yang (S), Joseph Anderson (F), Daniel Rohde (F), Ava Sherry (F)

Slip rings are devices used to transmit electrical power through a rotating interface. The 2019–2020 Moog Clinic team designed a new device to replace current slip rings for spacecraft applications. The main features the team sought to improve upon were product longevity and current carrying capacity, as well as reducing the amount of conductive debris generated by the device during operation. The team researched methods of rotary power transmission and created multiple novel design alternatives. The most efficient and reliable alternatives were further developed and evaluated for comparison to Moog’s current slip rings. The team presented final working prototypes to Moog along with recommendations for improvements in the material and manufacturing process.