Projects

The project was concerned with the development of a DVB-RCS transmit module to provide a satellite return channel for the Consumer Electronics market. Activities included the development of a pHEMT GaAs MMIC process (FD25) based on a 6? wafer, stepper-based technology followed by the subsequent characterisation and creation of models followed by the design and characterisation of the MMICs.
To achieve the stringent performance requirements for out-of-band rejection, a no-tune filter was developed. Cost-effective integration of MMICs and filter into the modules is presented. Finally, the performance of a number of modules assembled using standard low-cost manufacturing techniques was evaluated.

The aim of this project is the improvement of ADE4 performance and adaptability to Eurostar 3000 SX
spacecraft and cost savings in order to offer an enhanced competitiveness.

The Thermal Louvers developed by MAGNA Steyr are a low mass micro-engineered device based on Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. The MEMS Louvers are designed to be controlled by solar radiation temperature and to protect a radiator against external thermal fluxes (> inverse Thermal Louvers).

The study aims to identify, analyse, simulate, optimise and demonstrate resource management (RM) schemes for adaptive fade mitigation techniques.

The aim of this study is to identify new RF payload output section architecture concepts for the forward link of the next generation of broadband multimedia payloads in Ka-band.

The project intention is to design, manufacture and qualify a dual TX/RX C-Band OMT, which will complete the work already initiated two years ago with another ARTES 4 activity: "C-Band Low Mass feed".

The objective of this project is to outline a sustainable service which can be commercially exploited by European train operators at an affordable cost to passengers and service providers.

The goal of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of the Spread Spectrum In-
Orbit Testing concept based on the following objectives: traffic, accuracy, test duration, spin off and drift orbit.

The objective of the project is to establish the Phase A documentation to enable the opportunity to flight an APS Star Tracker as Technology Demonstration Payload (TPD) on AlphaSat.

The objective of this phase A study is to confirm the feasibility of the Alphasat TDP#2 technology demonstrator as defined by CSAG and ESA.

The project aim is to assess the feasibility of realizing one of the Technological Demonstration Payloads (TDP), to be hosted aboard the Alphasat satellite (the main passenger of which will be a proper operational payload).

The Phase A study is to confirm the feasibility of the T6 Technology Demonstration Payload (TDP) for AlphaSat by the end of July 2006.

The objective of this project is to develop large deployable radiators which will meet the power dissipation requirements for new upcoming spacecrafts.

In this project 21Net designed, built and
trialled a Wi-Fi access system connected to an
interactive satellite terminal for use on trains with the
capability to support broadband internet and intranet
access as well as local multimedia content such as short
films, up-to-the minute news, etc. The initial target
market is high-speed trains in Western Europe where
journey times allow for its use. The 21Net system
addresses the needs of train passengers, especially
business passengers, and allows them to access the
internet, their email and corporate VPNs.

The objective is to demonstrate the low loss, mass and volume reduction for a high power filter at Ku Band using advanced dielectric material, considering all the high power issues.

DELTASS is a mobile telemedicine demonstrator designed to improve the efficiency of the management of rescue, first aid and emergency operations in disaster telemedicine contexts such as earthquakes or large explosions. The DELTASS system enables the mobile paramedical or medical teams to coordinate their actions towards victims, to generate and transmit localisation and medical data directly from the disaster area to a coordination centre in an automatic and easy way, using adapted light space-backed equipment. DELTASS system allows also distant medical equipment or image manipulation and real time telediagnosis by specialised medical doctors at remote sites.

The potential benefit of SANTTSUR to
surgeon trainees will be in providing an interactive
learning environment and high quality learning materials
at the workplace. Important to these trainees and
Surgical Tutors, all with busy schedules, is that no time
is wasted travelling to a different location. The course is delivered via satellite through 30 high quality, live,
interactive TV programmes over a period of a year to
selected hospital centres, based on a modular syllabus
that is complementary to the Royal College of Surgeons
of England's (RCSEng) established course materials.

The main objective of the "Web Global
Medical System" (WEBGMS) is the availability of a
common base of multimedia data relevant to any
patients in remote sites. A package delivery service has
been used to multicast informative video clips and
content from a pharmaceutical firm evaluating the
system for commercial use. Virtual community has been
represented in the pilot base by 35 hospitals in Europe
collaborating with scientific associations in the field of
Marrow Transplant and Haematology.

The project OSCAR (Optically-pumped Space Cesium Atomic Resonator) aims to develop a concept of industrial compact optically pumped cesium atomic beam standard exhibiting superior frequency stability as compared with its commercial counterparts, namely, magnetically pumped cesium clocks.

I-GARMENT is aimed at developing fullbodied
smart garments equipped with sensors to
monitor position, vital signals (temperature and heart
beat) of the agents. This information will be sent via a
wireless link to Civil Protection Officers in the HQ,
processed and returned to the field officers equipped
with PDAs and/or TabletPCs. The project will develop a
service for the Portuguese Civil Protection to accurately
and effectively manage the human resources on the
field in near real-time, guaranteeing the service will
work even when terrestrial communications are
unavailable.

The project objective is to fly a Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop loop Flight Experiment (MPFL-FX) as Technology Demonstrator Program (TDP) on the Alphasat mission.

The objective of the Alphasat TDP#1 - Broadband Data Relay project is to verify the performance of a 2 Gbps optical LEO-to-GEO link in-orbit as part of an experimental broad-band data relay transmitting a 300 Mbps user data stream from Tandem-X to ground.

In the proposed experiment, radiation effects that are important for instrument and spacecraft design are studied by employing several technology experiments in conjunction with radiation monitoring instruments.

The objectives of this project are to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of using low-cost detectors to sense the atomic oxygen airglow of the atmosphere from space, and estimate the performance of a low-cost earth sensor that uses this concept.

This activity developed the ?Atmospheric Propagation and Profiling System? (ATPROP) advanced ground-based microwave radiometer, for radiowave propagation assessment at Ku, Ka, Q/V and W bands.

SKY EYE SPY (SKISPI) is a system that
adds an additional level of security to data transmitted
over a satellite communications link. This project aims
to produce a prototype system capable of either
permitting or refusing access to digital data dependent
on the location of the person, or system, that is making
the request for access. The system will combine
methods of encryption with the latest high sensitivity
GPS receivers and will be directly applicable to a variety
of satellite communication services, ranging from TV
broadcasts to business (point to point) transmissions.

The project objective is to develop optimal guidance laws for full electric propulsion station-keeping of GEO satellites with their corresponding thrusters accommodation architectures.

This study was motivated by the need to investigate new techniques for the capacity improvement of multimedia broadband satellite systems. In particular, the use of satellite systems with large numbers of beams and operations at a higher frequency limits the system performance interference. Hence, techniques which go beyond ACM in mitigating interference and improving system throughput were the objectives of this work.

The project should enable a complete understanding of the key trends and markets of the present and next generation of multimedia services.

Within this project, GPS measurements at high sampling rates (50 Hz) have been recorded in both high and low latitude regions. A data base has been constituted. These data have been used to derive the scintillation characteristics and improve scintillation models.

The study aims to understand the actions needed to foster multimedia service take-up, and its implied benefits, on a worldwide basis.

The Healthtrack Professional Service in
Home (HPS in Home) aims to provide professional
healthcare services to general practitioners directly to
their home. This is achieved by utilising the Sky Digital
TV platform to deliver the service as an interactive
television (iTV) application. The HPS in Home service is
planned ultimately to meet many of the continuing
medical education needs of healthcare professionals.

This project is devoted to the pre-development of Alphabus Central Tube (@CT), equipment which belongs to the structure subsystem of the Alphabus spacecraft.

The objective of this project is to finish the development of Polymer Kompositers electroless silver plating process, identify potential customers and make it commercially available.

The SDR-RCS project aims to develop a software defined radio prototype platform designed for regenerative satellite communications. The platform is capable of upgrading and reconfiguring itself to adapt to current and emergent signalling standards.

The Low Speed Serial Bus (LSSB) project aims to reduce the mass of the harness connected to the MPM (Microwave Power Module) and convert most of the parallel signals into serial signals.

The goal of Indra's project is to investigate how providing cross-layer information may help upper layers to take full advantage of this innovative physical layer solution.

The EMON project is an evolution of the DVB-RCS product portfolio at Nera, with the aim of "Expanding Market Opportunities with New functionality".

In the Web-RM2 study new visualisation concepts for ESA's Mission Control system SCOS-2000 are developed.

The bypass Removal project aims to improve battery reliability, reduce its total price by at least 30 %, reduce significant weight/volume at battery level and shorten the battery manufacturing lead time.