OPTICAL WIRELESS ON-BOARD DATA TRANSMISSION "LIGHT FIDELITY" (LIFI) FOR TELECOM SPACECRAFT (ARTES AT AND SCYLIGHT 4G.023)

Description

Objective:The objective is to demonstrate the suitability of LiFi as a physical layer for data handling within telecom satellite electrical architecture.

Targeted Improvements:Reduction of the harness mass by 30%.Reduction of the Assembly Integration and Testtime by one week or more.

Description:One of the challenges on a telecom spacecraft is to accommodate bundles of wires within complex harnesses. Wireless technologies will simplify significantly the electrical harness. Flight electrical harness and instrumentation electrical harness should be considered during Assembly Integration and Test (AIT). WiFi offers this advantage but introduces constraints in term of electromagnetic compatibility and security.

Signal transfers through mechanisms is challenging. The activity will address the use of LiFi to transferdata from the main external appendices (solar array, antennas). The activity will also address the best way to introduce LiFi in the AIT process where it is known that wireless technologies reduce the time and effort.

LiFi uses optical links instead of RF links.This induces much less risk of interferences and provides good resistance to hacking. Components for LiFi have been available since2012 and terrestrial demonstrations have shown capabilities of several Mbit/s.

The activity will demonstrate the maximum data transfer speed that is achievable within a telecom spacecraft cavity (diffused infrared transmission) or in connection with external appendices (direct sight is not mandatory but helps and reflections introduces losses).

A scaled Engineering Model of transmitter and hub receiver with critical functions (e.g. solar array temperatures telemetry transfer) shall bedesigned, manufactured and tested in arelevant environment. The suitability of such device to space environment shall be assessed.The question of the sensor power supplyshall be addressed as well as the protocol.

Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news "Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes".

Tender Specifics