As part of their research on magnetic bearings for satellite attitude control, two engineers at CSEM are using a dynamometer from Kistler to capture the micro-vibrations of a novel type of magnetic bearing reaction wheel. Based on precise micro-vibration measurements, they were able to characterize the effectiveness of a control algorithm that actively suppresses synchronous vibrations over the full speed range ‒ allowing higher rotational speeds thanks to reduced disturbances and power consumption.
In 2019, the CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique) headquartered in Neuchâtel celebrated 35 years of technological innovation and knowledge transfer. Headquartered in Neuchâtel, this scientific network originally had close ties with the watchmaking industry: over the years, it has evolved into a versatile and truly European research and technology hub ‒ and above all, a valuable partner for universities and industry partners in Switzerland and beyond. CSEM, a nonprofit organization, now employs more than 500 researchers and engineers who focus on a vast range of application areas: renewable energies, biomedical technology, microsystems, industrial automation, quantum and laser technologies as well as scientific instrumentation ‒ including the development of new technologies for space applications such as additive manufacturing, compliant mechanisms, and magnetically levitated actuators.