CubeSat maker HEX20 develops fault-tolerant solar power architecture

(SpaceEnergy) Indian small-satellite manufacturer HEX20 has developed a modular solar power architecture designed to prevent a single maximum power point tracking failure from disabling a CubeSat’s entire power system.

The design replaces a single central Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) stage with multiple identical autonomous modules connected to shared photovoltaic and battery buses. Each module conditions part of the incoming solar power independently.

HEX20 said the architecture uses analogue input-voltage regulation at a common operating point rather than radiation-sensitive digital communications between modules.

Output-level reverse-current isolation is intended to ensure that failure of one module causes only a proportional loss of available capacity rather than cutting off all solar-array and battery power.

The work is scheduled for presentation at the Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, on 26 August.