Bendable Electrodynamic Dust Shields

Hedgefog Research Inc. (HFR) is developing new, thin-film, Bendable Electrodynamic Dust Shields (BEDS) that allow for continuous dynamic bending over compound curvatures such as the joint regions of a spacesuit, e.g., ankles, knees, elbows, etc. The BEDS technology is based on a combination of customized rigid and bendable plastic sheet forms with thin film electrode arrays fabricated from commercial flexible copper circuit. The two-dimensional flat plastic sheets incorporate flexible lsquo;livingrsquo; hinges that can be bent in either a positive or negative radius to conform to curved surfaces. In Phase I HFR successfully demonstrated 250mm x 170mm laminate structures that allow living hinges to bend and flex over 100,000rsquo;s of bending cycles. This creates a highly suitable support material for thin film electrode arrays that use high strength electric fields to remove dust from the surface. In Phase I, HFR fabricated, assembled, and demonstrated the feasibility of the BEDS technology using high voltage waveforms and simulated regolith dust. We also investigated high voltage safety techniques, electro-magnetic interference reduction, and adaptive technologies to switch on the active dust cleaning only when necessary. In Phase II, HFR will expand the size of the BEDS technology to 1m x 2m grids using a roll-to-roll printing technology to reduce fabrication costs and demonstrate additional BEDS devices based on transparent Indium-Tin-Oxide films.