Panel discussion on day two of the AusSpace Summit; Paul Hepplewhite (left), Kiriti Rambhatla (middle), Adam Thorn (right). Image: Metakosmos
Metakosmos, a spacesuit design and manufacturing company, has been recognised at AusSpace24: Australian Space Summit & Exhibition after winning the Engineering Company of the Year award. Manufacturers Monthly reports.
Metakosmos, a Sydney-based startup, is set to revolutionize space exploration by reducing the cost of manufacturing spacesuits and customizing suits for different body shapes using digital optimization technology.
They prioritize innovation and encourage collaboration with universities to commercialize research technologies, thereby improving the capabilities of the space industry.
In partnership with the Australian Postgraduate Research Intern Network, they are drawing on the expertise of Australian doctoral students to develop spacesuit components and technologies.
Recently, Metakosmos won the ‘Engineering Company of the Year’ award at AusSpace24, Australia’s space summit and exhibition.
Commenting on the achievement, Metakosmos CEO Kiriti Rambhatla said: “Being part of AusSpace24, the largest gathering of the space industry from academia to large corporations like Boeing, has significantly boosted our credibility and confidence in the product we are building.”
“Winning the Engineering Company of the Year award, especially in the face of such formidable competition, validates our direction and highlights the value we bring.”
“This is a testament to our progress and gives us the confidence to expand our business and continue our work. We are excited to continue this momentum and aim for even greater success next year.”
This award is ultimately a testament to the work accomplished by Metakosmos, which consisted of a two-pronged strategy: first, the streamlining of internal product design processes through digital optimization, promising future cost savings and streamlined production.
Second, the launch of their telemetry application, Kernel360, which aims to extract intelligence from synthetic materials, integrating it into software systems.
This innovative approach is set to disrupt conventional practices within the space industry, marking a significant step forward.
“This combination will definitely disrupt the way things are done in the space industry,” Rambhatla said.
“The goal is obviously to be able to access data in real time, but there will be situations like offshore operations, where you may not have a reliable internet connection.”
So we design the system so that there is an embedded computer, which acts like a black box.
“So it will take care of it whenever you have stable connections that will transmit the information in real time. Otherwise, you will also have an offline transfer.”
Called a “digital twin,” this concept represents uncharted territory in the public domain.
Metakosmos is committed to democratizing this technology as an open platform, inviting collaboration and innovation from a broader ecosystem of contributors.
The company has also attracted several potential business partnerships.
Metakosmos has established international collaborations, including one with a Middle Eastern company specializing in environmental AI applications for industries such as oil and gas.
The partnership aims to integrate an API into Metakosmos’ system, enabling the extraction of information from various environments, such as nuclear power plants during clean-up operations.
Additionally, Metakosmos has been selected as one of 15 finalists at Tech Connect World in Washington DC, where they will showcase their suits for chemical, biological and radioactive scenarios.
This recognition is an opportunity to explore the American market. Preliminary discussions are also underway in New Zealand.
“Two years ago, Metakosmos® participated in the Australia-New Zealand Biobridge program, facilitating connections between medical researchers from both countries,” Rambhatla said.
Given their focus on biomarker work, they have collaborated with universities across New Zealand, aligning on areas of interest for product development.
This initial connection has since paved the way for ongoing discussions within the New Zealand ecosystem.
“We are collaborating with the 3D printing team at Victoria University of Wellington, which is renowned for its expertise in printing unique shapes,” Rambhatla said.
“Our goal is to develop a complete exoskeleton using their capabilities. The first design files have been tested on 15-inch scale models, which will be presented in our offices.
“We are looking to develop a life-size, 190-centimeter exoskeleton that is fully 3D printed. This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to leverage cutting-edge technology in our product development journey.”
After prototyping, the next critical phase for Metakosmos is testing and certification, which they take seriously.
“We are committed to seven to 10 strict standards throughout this process,” Rambhatla said.
“Our goal is to align our prototypes with these standards. This is where our internal system of proprietary engineering and testing tools plays a crucial role, as it encompasses many testing standards around the world.
“This allows us to adapt the tests according to user expectations.”
Over the next six to twelve months, Metakosmos plans to conduct operational pilot projects.
“We will design experiments, establish benchmarks and measurements, linking them to business outcomes, all outlined in our roadmap,”
“In addition, we aspire to organize a large-scale event showcasing the full range of suits we plan to develop.
“With basic prototypes and software in place, we aim to dispel the misconception that we are only a small part of the process by demonstrating our ability to build entire systems. Ideally, this event should take place in the second half of this year.”