Projects

The objective of project TUNO is to develop compact and innovative tunable notch filters below 6GHz for VSAT applications on the basis of the reference specs that are present in the ITT’s SOW. Two breadboard (BB) models and one engineering model (EM) will be manufactured and experimentally verified to fully validate the concepts. The project duration is 24 months. The target TRL is 5-6.

The development of a framework for RF inter-satellite links to enable system designers and equipment manufacturers to specify and design against a common set of system, sub-system, and equipment requirements.
A proposed framework for standardising ISL systems was produced including the management,

UniCore develops a prototype 5G New Radio (NR) reference User Equipment (UE) capable of supporting both Terrestrial Networks (TN) and Non-terrestrial Networks (NTN) incorporating a portable protocol stack. The Reference UE will allow UE manufacturers to accelerate the timescales of their related developments in their overall 5G UE development and test programmes.

In this project, we investigate lens antennas as a cost-effective solution for the ground terminal in on-the-move satellite communications links. The developed antennas provide attractive features like high directivity, wide angle steerable radiation, low cost, and compact size, and the antennas are intended for use onboard high-speed vehicles such as trains or trucks.

Non-Orthogonal Access for Satellite Uplink Efficiency Improvement: Developing and testing a new scheme to enhance return link throughput, and assessing performance in both a live system demonstrator and an over-the-air end-to-end system demonstrator.

LEO-DIVE aims to develop and test multi-satellite diversity techniques in large Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations to combat the detrimental effects of shadowing, multipath fading and channel blockage events, both in high- and low-frequency scenarios, with the goal of increasing the perceived QoS at user terminals (UTs) side. LEO-DIVE diversity techniques are adapted to the 3GPP 5G NR Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) specification.

This activity develops an on-board eNB capable of overcoming the technical challenges of using standards that aren’t originally conceived for satellite communications, preferably compatible with small satellite platforms. The eNB is integrated in a testbed capable of emulating different scenarios and relevant channel impairments to validate its performance in realistic conditions.

A Proof-of-Concept Demonstrator (POCD) demonstrating wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) around 1064 nm wavelength to increase the data rate of the current generation of laser communication terminals.

This activity develops and validates integrated passive waveguide feeders at Q, V and W-band for the feeder links in Very High Throughput Satellite systems. It uses new manufacture techniques to reduce the assembly needs and provide performance gain.

High-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS) are aircrafts (airplanes, airships or balloons) positioned above 20 Km altitude, ideally designed to fly for a long time in the stratosphere, providing services conventionally served by artificial satellites orbiting the Earth. This activity has to be understood in the context of a renewed interest in HAPS as assets for providing different services, especially telecommunications and remote sensing for civilian or military applications.

Investigation of Type 3 Storage Vessels in a re-entry environment to get a better understanding of the demise characteristics, and possible ways to mitigate the risk of ground impact of spacecraft components.

The Health-AI project developed an innovative onboard Failure Detection, Isolation and Recovery system powered by Artificial Intelligence. Data-centric approaches offer an array of advantages compared to traditional implementations, such as early identification of anomalies, autonomous anomaly classification, predictive health monitoring, and a reduced dependency on ground operations.

The objective of the study is to develop (design, manufacture and test) an Engineering Model for a Feed system relevant for HTS application working simultaneously in User (K/Ka band) and Feeder (Q/V band) link in Tx and Rx mode with a compact envelope able to be accommodated in a feed cluster.

5G-GOA develops and implements the necessary modifications in the 5G New Radio standard to enable the direct radio access of terrestrial communication networks via satellite, a 5G RAN via satellite closely following the 3GPP Work Item on Non-Terrestrial-Networks. The hardware and software development relies on and uses existing technologies, hardware and software components already available from the open-source project OpenAirInterface for the prototyping of 5G terrestrial systems. Our solution is directly based on 3GPP discussions and results and covers physical layer techniques (e.g. synchronisation) up to specific protocols and upper layer implementations (e.g. timers and random-access procedure) of the radio access network, as needed. 5G-GOA focuses on geostationary satellite systems.

The EPFB project explores the feasibility of implementing a full pump fed system for a MMH/MON CPS, limiting or even avoiding the PCA. The absence of an high pressure feeding system results in the optimization of the propellants fluidic line, leading to lower tank masses and thickness, and to the reduction of the number of necessary fluidic components such as valves, orifices, and pressure regulators. A reduction in the spacecraft bulky components leads to savings in terms of mass budget, and , consequently cost.

ESA asked for a demanding wide band RF passive combiner to be considered as the essential part of a Spatial Power Combining Amplifier for Ground application. 
Having in mind such objective, the developed enabling technologies resulted in a dispositive able of meeting the severe requirements opening a line of interest on multi-band amplifiers development.
 

Using non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) techniques with a novel, frequency agnostic air interface for uncoordinated IoT communication over extremely low link margin satellite links operating with signal-to-noise-ratios down to below Ec/No = -40 dB

ACROSS-AIR explores the needs, requirements, opportunities, and potential solutions for establishing effective broadband satellite communication services to rotary wing aircraft, including helicopters, commercial UAVs, and UAMs platforms. The consortium analyses the State-of-the-Art, identifies Use Cases and requirements, and performs system level modeling, simulation and analysis. Finally, technical and non-technical gaps are identified and a related roadmap is created.

The focus of this Project is to develop and validate in a laboratory environment a MMIC Multiplexer operating in K/Ka-Band, capable of enabling hybrid terrestrial/satellite 5G communications and compatible with technologies based on flat-panel antennas, identifying possible use cases in the framework of 5G communications which can benefits from this technologies.

Due to the intensive activities in the space during the last half century, the population of man-made space objects is playing an increasingly relevant role in the space environment. The launch of mega-constellations is also increasing the number of active vs active high-risk collisions. In order to achieve an agreement for the good coordination and data sharing between these actors, it is important to take into account the privacy of the data shared.

ASTREA aims to perform the technical risk mitigation of the adaptation of the IURA (IoT Universal Radio Access) air-interface to Ku/Ka-band over GEO satellite systems thanks to an evolved end-to-end test-bed developed and used to test the system in a real scenario using a representative Ku-band GEO satellite. The test-bed includes both the terminal and the gateway parts.

THRIMOS addresses the current need for automated, optimized and systematic RF measurement tasking driven by factors associated with increased space object catalogue, especially for NGSO, for optimized RF ground infrastructure and RF-link usage.
In addition, the THRIMOS web-based interface provides a user-friendly multi-user experience for any distributed team involved in the RF management tasking enterprise.
 

Astro- und Feinwerktechnik Adlershof GmbH intendeds to enter new markets with its new state-of-the-art High Momentum Wheel RW6000. The smart reaction wheel provides a 100 Nms momentum capacity and an output torque of 0.2 Nm. Furthermore, it offers a digital interface with an embedded closed loop controller for higher accuracy and torque stability.

The objective of this project is to carry out a variety of radio performance studies, based on 3GPP and ITU-R methodologies, for the coexistence of NTN and TN networks.  The relevant co-existence interference scenarios, frequency bands and network use-cases will be identified and investigated based on channel models and parameters specified in the standards initially at Frequency Range (FR) 1 and later at FR2.

The UAV-3S (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Satellite System Simulator) project focuses on design, development and testing of an end-to-end system simulator that provides performance indicators which are key for the development of UAV satellite terminals. The simulator supports both Command and Control (C&C), and payload data communications, geostationary (GSO) and non-GSO constellations, a variety of UAVs and realistic terrain morphology.

Support the development of 5G Advanced and 6G networks through service management and orchestration of mesh networks including dynamic, directional, steerable-beam equipment in terrestrial networks (TN) and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) by building support into O-RAN interfaces and integration into Aalyria’s Spacetime Temporospatial Software Defined Networking platform.

The objective of the activity is to create a new Solenix product, Narvina, to support commercial satellite operators in their daily tasks.

Narvina will provide AI-driven data analysis capabilities in a user-friendly way for better decision-making and enhanced overall performance of the system.

ANChOR has designed and developed an orchestration platform enhanced with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques for the real-time optimization of 5G infrastructures integrating satellite networks. ANChOR targets use cases with network slices for eMBB and mMTC/IoT services, validated through Over-the-Air tests for GEO backhauling scenarios and simulations for LEO access and NarrowBand – Internet of Things communications.

In this project, a fully Software Defined, Single Carrier per Channel satellite communication modem is developed. The modem is maximally compatible with the 5G NR waveform definition of 3GPP Release 17. The implementation leverages Cactus proprietary Tensor Defined Radio technology which make use of artificial neural networks in order to deliver best in class throughput on any given compute & power constrained host platform.

ViSAGE is an ad-hoc SatCom-as-a Service solution that leverages available GSaaS infrastructure for signal reception and digitization, its own cloud-native software-based modem, and its 3GPP-based service management and orchestration platform. 

Customers will log into the ViSAGE portal to configure all mission parameters (service type, satellite orbit, quality of service, etc.). ViSAGE will then manage and orchestrate all resources needed to provide the requested communication service.

ViSAGE is intended to support customers during mission definition, realization, and operation.

The Caramuel project targets the design, development, implementation, and operation of the first Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system from geostationary orbit, to be integrated into the future European secure quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI). During the Definition Phase, the technological and architectural alternatives were evaluated, in accordance with the state of the art and the requirements of the services to be provided, leading to the specification of the system and the associated development plan.

A low power and miniaturised wideband modulator and demodulator (modem) achieving a giga symbol per second (Gsym/s) symbol rates to enable RF signal based inter-satellite links (ISL) on board small-tomedium platforms.

The project can be summarized as thereafter:

• First step: Requirements review, current LNMO design modifications identification and realization. Parts purchasing, MATV document and qualification test plan redaction.

• Second step: EQM manufacturing and finalization of qualification test plan and test procedures

• Third step: Qualification tests versus space environment, overall assessment and establishment of the LNMO qualification status

The on-site first responders in a safety critical environment require multimedia Mission Critical (MCX) services  with a fast call setup time, high availability, group call management and priority mechanism in place. In areas with no terrestrial radio coverage or limited coverage due to the target disaster, satellite links are essential to connect the first responders and the control centre allowing the utilization of the MCX services. Featuring low propagation delay and ISL, the LEO satellite Constellation Networks (LCN) are favourite satellite candidate to provide the first responders with MCX services in an integrated MCX-LCN environment. 

The development of GFP equipment (AIDA & SCACE) undertaken between the European Space Agency and AIRBUS Defence & Space  to improve the positioning of the European industry within the future Ku-band FSS commercial telecommunications market and achieve the 1st flight opportunity for this class of operation on the Quantum satellite, the first fully flexible, scalable and generic payload in Ku-band.

R3 aims to study a comprehensive vision of what the Rapid and Resilient Crisis Response shall look like, specify, and design a solution addressing the identified requirements. The study paves the way for the definition of services using highly innovative and secure SATCOM systems, Satellite AI, Nav and EO aiming at support the needs of public safety stakeholders and Public Protection Disaster Relief (PPDR) such as emergency services.

5G-HOSTS-SAT validates services from various vertical sectors over satellite-enabled 5G networks. In the first phase, Over-the-Air trials and demonstrations target applications for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) and smart agriculture services. The experimentation facility integrates the latest 5G technologies with GEO satellite platforms, to build flexible 5G infrastructures with programmable terrestrial/satellite backhaul, edge computing resources, monitoring and orchestration capabilities.

Technology development (TRL 4) of a Routing Solution for a safety-critical LEO satellite constellation providing safety-critical Communication and Surveillance services for Air Traffic Management (ATM).

The Flight Path Emulator emulates Inmarsat BGAN satellite data communication, including emulation of ground station and core network in mobility scenarios.

This emulation will enable off-air functional and performance testing of different BGAN aero terminals and aero L-band antenna types taking realistic link impairments into account. Impact of aircraft manoeuvring (e.g., banking) and the flight path itself can also be emulated.