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This issue: Nordic information technology /
Innovation through technology
» SINTEF ICT:
Fresh Air in Space
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As a child, Atle Honne read everything he could
find about the stars. Half a century later, parts of his
professional life’s work was heading for the skies.
Honne is a senior research scientist at SINTEF
ICT, a contract research organisation in Norway.
In August 2007, the “Endeavour” space shuttle left
Earth with the result of his research as part of the
cargo; gas measurement equipment and software
for monitoring astronauts’ “indoor” climate.
The idea of this measurement system, known as
ANITA, is monitoring the air quality on board the
SINTEF ICT is a business area in SINTEF,
the largest independent contract research
organisation in Scandinavia.
SINTEF ICT offers research-based top level
expertise and technology in the fields of
Information Systems and Computational
Software, Control and Communication
Systems, and Micro- and Sensor Systems.
We create value for our customers by
developing sustainable solutions, products
and processes in close cooperation with our
customers. The aim of our 300 employees is
research – innovation – commercialization
to the benefit of industry and society.
Among our customers are ABB, Kongsberg,
FMC Technologies, SIEMENS, Thales,
IBM, SAP, Tomra, Honeywell, NACRE,
GE Medical as well as a variety of SMEs.
SINTEF ICT is a key Scandinavian player
in EU’s Framework Programme. Among the
projects is “Internet of Energy for Electric
Mobility” where SINTEF ICT, coordinator
of the consortium, is contributing to the
development of Europe’s future
transportation system.
International Space Station (ISS) to prevent that
astronauts are exposed to unhealthy, toxic or
carcinogenic gases.
As on Earth, gases diffuse out of walls,
furnishings and equipment in the ISS. Others
may come from leakages or overheating, while
the human body also emits gases. On board the
ISS, ANITA monitored such emissions as part
of a pilot project run in parallel with existing
monitoring systems.
COMPLEX MIXTURES
“ANITA has shown that it is possible to measure
more than 30 gases simultaneously and fast.
Timing is important, because the astronauts must
have the chance to put countermeasures into
effect in the event of leakage or a failure in the air
purification system. During its year in space
ANITA has shown that the system “sees” gases
that other instruments cannot detect,” says
Honne.
ANITA identifies gases by means of an optical
system that “sees” infrared light. Honne has
developed the methods used to interpret ANITA’s
measurements, providing much faster and more
accurate readings than current systems analysing
the individual components of a gas mixture.
CAN ALSO BE USED ON EARTH
ANITA is the result of a cooperative project
between SINTEF and the German company
Kayser-Threde GmbH.
“For SINTEF, the aerospace industry is interesting
because it is a highly demanding market. If a
measuring method passes through the needle’s
eye there, it is well qualified for applications
on Earth. The methodology used in ANITA can
be used to monitor air quality in submarines,
aircraft, laboratories and other environments
where such control is important,” explains Honne.
The methodology is also suitable for monitoring
industrial processes and environmental emissions.
henrik@bedriftprofilen.no – www.bedriftprofilen.no
Senior scientist Atle Honne in a “space-suit” at the
Norwegian Space Centre in Oslo. (Photo: SINTEF/
Geir Mogen)
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
As the leader of SINTEF’s ANITA team, Honne
was awarded the prestigious “SAE Wright Brothers
Medal” in 2011. SINTEF’s work on ANITA was
performed under the auspices of ESA (European
Space Agency), and was supported by the
Norwegian Space Centre.
SINTEF is currently developing an enhanced
version of ANITA, aiming at making ANITA part
of the standard equipment of the ISS.
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