Revolutionary Taiwanese Business Leader Makes Waves in the Realm of Satellite Technology
Taiwanese tech entrepreneur Thomas Yen, at just 25 years old, has made a significant impact on the space industry with his company, Tensor Tech. Yen, the founder of the satellite solutions company, has become the first startup to engineer spherical motors for commercial use in space satellites [1].
Before Tensor Tech, space satellites relied on traditional single-axis motors to adjust their attitude towards Earth. These motors required three separate units to rotate the hardware across three axes [1]. However, Tensor Tech's spherical motor allows for attitude adjustment smoothly around multiple axes with a single unit, based on the geometry of a ball [1]. This technology provides better and smoother maneuverability, significant cost reductions, and improved electricity allocation by needing only one motor rather than three [1].
One of the most economically crucial benefits of the spherical motor is its ability to lighten the satellite payload. Launch companies charge clients by the kilogram of payload, so reducing weight results in substantial savings. Tensor Tech's customers can save approximately US$34,000 per kilogram when sending satellites into space [1]. This approach simplifies satellite design and operation and reduces the financial and energy costs associated with satellite attitude control.
Tensor Tech has also gradually created complimentary control systems to pair with its spherical motors. The company aims to make large-scale spherical motors for big satellites in the future [1]. Their first satellite with a spherical motor was launched by SpaceX in January 2022 [1].
Yen's passion for technology was evident from a young age. During his high school years, the early concept of Tensor Tech's flagship product took shape. Yen started to think of ways to replace single-axis motors in satellites with spherical ones, using one of his favorite fictional technologies [2]. His family homeschooled him for high school, enabling him to concentrate on engineering [2].
Yen dropped out of National Taiwan University and started his own company in 2019 [2]. As the university works with the Taiwan Space Agency, the teenagers were introduced to single-axis motors, commonly used to control a satellite's attitude [2]. However, Yen was inspired by the maneuverability of a car in the Hollywood science-fiction film I, Robot to develop new technology [2].
The motor ran until the satellite disconnected a year later [2]. The most valuable asset Tensor Tech possesses is the power of its engineering [2]. Yen and a friend were given permission to use the Department of Electrical Engineering lab at National Cheng Kung University, thanks to a tech personnel cultivation project initiated by the Ministry of Education [2].
In conclusion, Tensor Tech's spherical motor technology has transformed an academic concept existing for over 20 years into a practical, commercially viable solution that enhances satellite efficiency and affordability, marking a significant advancement in space technology [1][2].
- Tensor Tech's spherical motor, which enables attitude adjustment smoothly around multiple axes with a single unit, is revolutionizing space-and-astronomy by providing better maneuverability, cost reductions, and improved electricity allocation compared to traditional single-axis motors.
- By simplifying satellite design and operation, and reducing the financial and energy costs associated with satellite attitude control, the technology developed by Taiwanese tech entrepreneur Thomas Yen and his company, Tensor Tech, is set to make a substantial impact on the space industry, thanks to advancements in science and technology.
