Lens R&D B.V. is a systems engineering company specialised in optimising high reliability (electro-optical) sensors and systems for volume fabrication. This is done by combining a healthy level of innovation with many years of experience and background in the production of sensors and systems for both military and space applications.

Currently, the activities are mainly limited to the design and qualification of Sunsensors for space applications and systems engineering consultancy. Founded in March 2012 the privately owned company changed to a B.V. structure in 2022 is growing steadily and expanding the facilities as well as the product portfolio.

There are currently three main products, the BiSon64-ET (without straylight baffle) the Bison64-ET-B (the same sensor with a straylight baffle) and the MAUS.

The MAUS is the first truly radiation hardened Sunsensor for Cubesat applications that was developed on specific customer request.

Optimised to have the lowest possible building hight based on a standard 9 pole nano-D connector, the sensor is less than 5mm high, thus allowing an easy integration on a standard Cubesat.

The BiSon sensors have been developed and extensively qualified over multiple years in frame of various ESA programs.

The BiSon64-ET has been tested over a temperature range of -125°C..+125°C in thermal vacuum even though the current qualification status is more limited due to the availability of the required test equipment for the last qualification tests.

The Bison64-ET-B is the only analogue fine Sunsensor known to have an integrated straylight baffle. This baffle reduces albedo sensitivity and can be used to ensure albedo error free operation over the maximum angular range required for an Earth pointing sensor. This can be done by simply mounting the sensor on a tilted bracket for which the tilt angle is optimised to provide the optimum angle for the intended altitude of operation.

Based on the same proprietary radiation hardened four quadrant photodiodes as the BiSon sensors, the Space grade Commercial Off The Shelf (SCOTS) components are believed to exhibit the best quality to cost ratio of any Sunsensor for space applications available on the market.

With a guaranteed non-calibrated accuracy of 3.5° all sensors are ideally suited for constellation applications at the sensors can be used without uploading any data on the flight computer, thus significantly saving on integration and configuration control costs.

Although all sensors and accessories are standard offered in a SCOTS approach, additional testing, reporting inspections or other QA/PA measures can be agreed upon.

The Lens R&D B.V.  linkedin page, can be found here.