Key highlights

CMG SERIES

Control Moment Gyroscope

Flight Heritage Since Jan. 2022

Control Moment Gyroscope

Tensor Tech maximizes performance for small satellite users by miniaturizing its variable-speed Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMGs), offering additional power efficiency and agility at a comparable cost to traditional reaction wheel solutions.

Our CMG provides one control interface, allowing users to set the torque of wheel and speed of gimbal directly.

For CMG clusters, an additional steering control board (SCB) enables users to input 3-axis torque commands on the body frame, facilitating individual maneuvering of each CMG. This feature positions the CMG cluster as a drop-in alternative to reaction wheels.

Variable-speed, single-gimbal CMG

Using gyroscopic torque instead of reaction wheel torque only

When the gimbal is titled in different directions with a gimbal rate (ωs), the gyroscopic torque in direction can be provided due to the change of the direction of the angular momentum vector.

Our CMG design eliminates the singularity issue encountered by conventional CMGs by using a rotor with variable speed instead of a constant speed and replaces slip ring flywheels with Tensor Tech’s patented electromagnetic direct-drive spherical motor to resolve constraints associated with gimbal maneuver lifecycle.

Applications

Earth Observation: The system's fine-pointing capabilities enable high-precision imaging and data collection of Earth's surface.

Precise Maneuvering: The CMG-10m facilitates accurate satellite orientation adjustments, essential for tasks such as target tracking and alignment with communication links.

Autonomous Operations: With embedded attitude determination and control algorithms, the system supports autonomous modes like sun pointing, detumbling, and safe mode, reducing the need for extensive ground intervention.

Key features

High-performance with compact design
- >10 times higher torque compared to reaction wheels alternative
- >10 times higher torque-to-power ratio compared to reaction wheel
Advance Dynamics with User-Friendly Interface
- Variable-Speed, single-gimbal CMG (VSCMG) rotational dynamics
- 2 axes torque output
- Torque control mode (TCM) for acceleration-based steering law
- Speed control mode (SCM) for velocity-based steering law
Flexible Integration
- Designed to fit within tuna-can volume or standard CubeSat body frame
- Multiple mechanical interfaces available to accomodate larger nanosatellites requirements. See TensorADCS product line, integrated and discrete versions.
High magnetic permeability shell to prevent magnetic flux leakages
Careful dynamic unbalance calibration of the rotor in line with ISO1940 G0.4 - Low jitter (micro-vibration) @8000 rpm
Comprehensive software support and free technical support
Soft error and hard error fault detection

Customization

Available in:

Standalone version
Integrated with other Tensor Tech ADCS components (see TensorADCS integrated product line)
Delivered as discretete components with other Tensor Tech ADCS components (see Tensor ADCS discrete product line)
Various mechanical interface, including 3U, 6U and 12U version.

Flight heritage

The Tensor Tech TensorCMG-10m has achieved flight heritage in 2022.

Manufacturing

IPC Class 3 Production and Assembly

Testing & qualification

Environmental Test Following NASA GEVS

Export control

ITAR-Free

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Last updated: 2026-03-11