Artificially intelligent satellites and communication systems, once solely the province of science fiction, are now a reality. Recent advances have equipped the latest generation of space platforms with new levels of autonomy, awareness and resilience.

CGI have collaborated with the European Space Agency (ESA) and industry to develop the Autonomous Satellite Solutions (AUTSS) platform, an artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) accelerator for the Satcoms industry.

CGI has created AUTSS to address the unique engineering challenges of Space. AUTSS combines CGI’s 50 years of experience in the European and North American Space industry with: optimised hardware; Machine-Learning-as-a-Service (MLaaS); and bespoke AI tooling. The platform offers substantial reductions in the cost, time and risk required to explore how AI can improve your business.

Thales Alenia Space brings over 40 years of experience to the design, integration, testing and operation of innovative space systems for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures.

Thales Alenia Space in Belgium is an expert in many high-technology fields and a key player in Electrical Power Conditioner for travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers.

The Satellite Operations as a Service project goal is to develop a service based on GMVs ground segment products. The solution allows satellite operators to completely outsource the control of the mission and focus on final mission purposes and exploitation.

This study aims to identify synergies between SatCom and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT, but blockchain in pàrticular) as well as the preliminary definition for the architecture most suited for the implementation of a SatCom+DLT mission.

In this activity, the design and manufacturing (using Selective Layer Melting - SLM) of a monolithic cluster containing 13 closely-packed (pitch of 22 mm), dual-band, dual-circular polarization feed chains in Ka-band for GEO antenna applications is demonstrated.

The project aims to Develop a 5G compliant gNodeB (gNB) and User Equipments (UE), adapted for Non Terrestrial Network uses, and to verify its feasibility by both emulating and using a satellite radio link adapted for 5G uses.

In an increasingly data-driven global society, Free Space Optical Communication, FSOC, is a key technology, overcoming the bandwidth bottleneck of radio technology. The market for a widespread exploitation of FSOC requires 24/7 operability of reliable optical channels. ALASCA project aims to prove the effectiveness of 24/7 optical feeder links with Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics to solve the Point-Ahead problem.

The Expanse project explores the possibility and impact of data acquisition, processing and data-based actuation within a comprehensive 5G satellite-terrestrial system using additional data sources, such as Earth Observation data and data from the application layer. The intention is to widen the technology horizon of SatCom industry in the direction of a more data-centric approach.

The Enpulsion Micro R³ is a 100W class electric propulsion system for small satellites. It is based on the FEEP technology and is developed as an all in one plug-and-play propulsion system.

Free Space Optical Communications links can offer high bandwidth and secure internet without the need for fixed fibre infrastructure, however turbulence in the atmosphere causes problems. Adaptive Optics using Laser Guide Stars can compensate for the turbulence, allowing stable and reliable optical communications. In GEOStar, such a system is being developed to demonstrate links with a geostationary satellite.

The purpose of the project is to perform a study on the Integration of Satellite Backhauled HAPS in Future SATCOM Networks. The project covers a case selection and scenario definition, followed by a suitability analysis, identification of necessary adaptations in the 5G standard and development and validation of the adaptations. The project ends with the conclusions, roadmap and recommendations.

The study focuses on Lunar optical communications with the aim to:

1. investigate the communications scenarios and architecture for the cis-lunar region, also involving the Deep Space Gateway

2. perform a technical specification and preliminary design of the required optical terminals

3. perform a technology survey, identify the critical units and derive the technology roadmap.

The market for small satellites is currently booming on a global scale.

One of the capabilities that could allow telecommunications applications from a small satellite system is the Inter-Satellite Link. For such links High Gain Antennas are needed; BEAMSAT-2 Axially Displaced Ellipse (ADE) antenna represents one of the first
developments of a HGA for CubeSats at 60 GHz.

5G-LEO extends OpenAirInterfaceTM to support satellite systems in non-geostationary orbits. This extension implements a full 5G protocol stack (Release ≥16) for both the UE and the gNB. As a main outcome 5G-LEO provides a publicly available new version of the open source OAI software library with new features to support 5G LEO satellite communication networks.

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 main objective of the proposed activity is to develop and validate a solution to fully automate the commissioning of services in SatCom on-the-move mechanical terminals, without human intervention, addressing optimal radiofrequency performance and power transmission required by the Network Operations Center and minimizing interferences. It also enables remote recovery in many cases, removing the need for installers to revisit the site.

Through its activities, ALIX supports the satellite communication community to engage with 3GPP in order to develop contributions and advocate positions favourable to the SatCom sector within the 3GPP standardisation process such that they result in tangible industrial opportunities.
The project gathers organizations from the satellite communication community each holding key positions in 3GPP and ETSI as contributors, rapporteurs of study items or chairmanship of Working Group.

The project aims at reaching validation of CASTeC, a tool for advanced telemetry checking for satellites constellations, in an operational scenario (TRL 8). CASTeC provides early identification of anomalies in the behaviour of satellites relative to a contextualised standard, enabling fault isolation and mitigation strategies definition. It may also support the identification of critical operative conditions affecting service performance.

Development of the Onesat mechanical platform & propulsion systems, and a parallel technology development for Aquarius electrolysed water based propulsion technologies for future mission applications.

The main objectives of the project consist of developing new solutions in terms of test techniques, instrumentation and methods in order to overcome the three critical difficulties facing the space industry for the testing of multi-beam antennas.

MRC100 brings new features to Newtec Dialog® as part of ST Engineering iDirect’s continuous effort to deliver efficient, high-performant, scalable, and secure products. One of the main features is the upgrade of the Mx-DMA MRC return link technology to support higher baud rates of up to 100 Mbaud.

The project also investigates the use of AI and ML in ACM, and the potential increase of satellite network sizes using virtual carriers in a physical wideband carrier.

Neuromorphic computers are non-von Neumann computers whose structure and function are inspired by brains and are therefore composed of neurons and synapses. They have enormous potential for many different applications. In this project we explore and understand the current state-of-the-art of Neuromorphic Processor hardware and software technologies and assess their applicability to space applications.

MECANO ID takes a new step in its development for the supply of composite structures with the maturing of robotized products for SatCom in the frame of this ARTES Competitiveness and Growth co-funded activity. Three products are targeted: Hyperstable Composite Tubes for antennas and reflector arms, Composite Booms New Generation for deployable systems and One-Shot Struts for structural applications.

SCNE simulator enables the design of the future LEO satellite communication constellations, but also the study and assessment of protocol and algorithm performances ranging from low-speed data collection and mobile communications to broadband and broadcast services.

5G-COSMO project studies how to enable direct 5G satellite connectivity in smartphones. This feature is important for extending cellular network coverage significantly. Current and planned satellite systems together with smartphone capabilities are used as a starting point in analysis. Furthermore, technological gaps and challenges are identified based on which required technology roadmap is formed and an over-the-air demonstration planned.

The project aims at designing a compact, robust and cost-effective two-axis-mirror tilting system based on piezoelectric actuation. Main scope of application is the utilization as beam guiding mechanism in optical intersatellite communication.

SATis5 aims to build a large-scale real-time live end-to-end 5G integrated satellite terrestrial network proof-of-concept testbed. The demonstrator testbed implements, deploys and evaluates an integrated satellite-terrestrial 5G network, showcasing the benefits of the satellite integration with the terrestrial infrastructures as part of a comprehensive communication system.

Relevant satellite use cases for 5G to be demonstrated in SATis5 include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and massive machine type communications (mMTC). The SATis5 demonstrator covers live, over-the-air GEO and MEO satellite field demonstrations in addition to laboratory emulations and simulations in a federation of testbeds. The demonstrator is an open federation of resources that can integrate or incorporate additional resources and testbeds in the future providing a more diverse set of experiments and demonstrations.

An end-to-end functional testbed for Satellite 5G IoT Networks.

Artificial Intelligence for satellite communications will impose new requirements on computer processors, which will have to support large workloads as efficiently in harsh environmental conditions. Neuromorphic processing (NP) is emerging as a bio-inspired solution to address pattern recognition tasks involving multiple, temporal signals and/or requiring continuous learning. The main merits of this technology are energy efficiency and on-device adaptability. 

The objectives of the project were to add enhancements to an existing optimised LoRaWAN to satellite software stack for advanced LoRaWAN over Satellite features including compatibility with LoRaWAN cloud-based management tools (Third-party NOC, IoT Platforms), LoRaWAN COTS sensor integration interfaces (ThingNOC API) and LoRaWAN security standards (LoRaWAN 1.1. security, Downlink firmware updates).

The ESA MEO Extension to REACH project is the evolution of the REACH platform to support the SES O3b mPOWER System.

This expansion integrates the MEO constellation fleet in the REACH platform, and in parallel prepares the ground for the inclusion of the MEO terminals and modems.

A World Class data security System For Your IoT Infrastructure.

Irish Startup Tisalabs LTD, through the SecureSat Project protects Critical IoT Infrastructure through data encryption, device identity management and communication technology with ironclad security. Our system level security enables our customers to take advantage of satellite Communications to build IoT solutions at scale and with an Ironclad security by design. Devices connected through LoRa/LoRaWAN technology and Satellite communications can transmit data securely from devices to Cloud using our Gateway Software technology.

The proposed activity is in response to an imminent market need for Agile Converters for Ka/IF and Q- and V-band, of which the proposed Agile synthesized LO and digital gain control (DCLO – Digital Control & LO) module is a key part. The DCLO is a generic function that is intended to be used in different applications, especially converters and receivers interfacing payload processors at different frequencies.

Facing an anticipated five-fold growth of the number of natural disaster events by 2050, ReSCUE consists of an end-to-end integrated System (terrestrial + satellite) able to support all relevant public safety / mission critical operations.

This study identified the key technical, programmatic and financial conditions under which critical European needs for connectivity could be addressed by an autonomous, secure, high-performance, resilient and accessible satcom system.

Hybrid-ConneX, an Excelerate Technology-led consortium project combines a hardware platform (Hybrid Communications Module) and a fully-managed service (Hybrid Communications as a Service) which integrates High Throughput Satellite, WiFi and 4G/5G networks enabling Ambulances and Healthcare Pathways access to fast, secure, seamless and fully-optimised connectivity and Cloud services.

This program provides a beam-hopping system test bed for validating a ground-space synchronization mechanism (and other added value use cases) for HTS/VHTS transparent satellites. The project addresses the need for an efficient standards-based approach (integrating Mod/Demod prototypes based on DVB-S2x Annex E) validated in realistic conditions (payload breadboards + channel emulation) allowing prospective users to adopt BH techniques with confidence.

UK-based company Oxford Space Systems developed a highly scalable and modular deployable and steerable patch panel antenna array compatible with microsatellites. This technology development directly addresses the need for high- throughput systems for microsat platforms.

The NON-GEO 5GCBH technology project explores and de-risks 3 major technology domains related to multi-orbit ground segment Satcom systems:

• Seamless satellite handover mechanisms in constellations
• Flexible Payload interaction with ground segment
• Service orchestrated interaction with terrestrial networks