TAE Technologies: Machine Generation History (Norman, Copernicus, Da Vinci)
| Machine Generation | First Plasma | Peak Ion Temperature | Status / Significance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-2 + C-2U (Generation 1-3; 2008-2013) | 2008 + 2013 | ~6 keV (~70M C) | Decommissioned; early validation of FRC architecture | |
| C-2W (Generation 4; 2017) | 2017 | ~10 keV (~115M C) | Decommissioned; precursor to Norman with neutral-beam heating | |
| Norman (Generation 5; 2017-present) | 2017 | 75M C achieved 2023; sustained 30+ ms | OPERATIONAL; primary research machine; D-D plasma; validated FRC stability | |
| Copernicus (Generation 6; under design + construction) | Target 2026-2027 | Target 100M+ C sustained | Under construction; initial p-B11 demonstration capability | |
| Da Vinci (Generation 7; commercial prototype) | Target 2028-2030 | Target commercial-scale plasma conditions | Design phase; commercial prototype demonstrating net-electricity feasibility for p-B11 | |
| Commercial p-B11 plant (FOAK) | Target 2030-2035 (originally 2030) | Per design | Significant schedule slip vs original 2030 target (range now 2030-2035) | |
| Editorial. Why this matters | Strategic context | TAE Technologies is the only major commercial fusion developer pursuing aneutronic p-B11 fusion + a generational machine-evolution strategy. The technical challenge is enormous: p-B11 requires plasma temperatures ~10x higher than D-T fusion. Marquee question: does Copernicus demonstrate the required p-B11 plasma conditions + does the commercial timeline (now 2030-2035, slipped from original 2030) hold through the second half of the decade? |
Updated at 2025-Q3
