University of Miami¶
Type: Academia | Location: Coral Gables, FL | SST projects: 1
SST Portfolio¶
| Project | Title | Period | TRL | Status | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94116 | Lightweight Structural Battery Systems for CubeSats | 2016-08 → 2018-08 | 3→5 | Completed | no-visible-outcome |
What Was Developed¶
Integrated structural battery using graphitic and carbon fiber electrodes in electrolytic polymer. The multifunctional material serves as both a lightweight load-bearing structure and an electrochemical battery — reducing mass while increasing electrical power in highly integrated small spacecraft.
TRL 3→5 in a 2-year project.
Key People¶
Ryan Kakkainen — PI. Single TechPort project. No other NASA projects found.
Downstream Impact¶
No follow-on TechPort projects, no flight, no commercial product. The structural battery concept is relevant to CubeSat miniaturization but didn't transition.
Assessment¶
Outcome category: no-visible-outcome
Pattern: Academic TRL Ceiling — TRL advanced 2 levels but didn't cross the valley of death. The multifunctional materials concept (structure = battery) is genuinely novel but requires significant manufacturing maturation for space qualification.
Last updated: 2026-04-14 (session 20)