Projects

This project aims to design and develop the prototype of a miniaturised microwave radiometer to be used as a channel assessment instrument in the ground segment of Satellite Communications systems and in SatCom propagation campaigns.

As part of the global roadmap and development logic to implement GaAs Solar Arrays on the overall Spacebus™ 4000C range, this project covers the establishment of the full design and justification file of a 4-panels wing (CDR level) and its qualification for next Spacebus™ application programs (PFM wing qualification).

This activity aims to clarify the conditions necessary for the development of a software module which offers the possibility for communication satellite payload operation to correlate spatial information from the ground segment with the space segment.

The main objective of the activity was to study and demonstrate new architectures for low-cost mobile terminal antennas suitable for linearly polarized satellite links. Two scenarios were identified, one for a transmit-only (Tx), and another for a receive-only (Rx) antenna.

The PLANET service aims at providing means for aviation to get in-flight information updates on weather conditions and hazards, while contributing at the same time to the observation of the atmosphere thanks to in situ measurements (e.g. pressure, temperature and wind) sent from the aircraft to the weather agencies. Besides, the system targets in-flight reporting of dangerous encountered weather conditions via the delivery of digital PIREPs (pilot reports) to other aircrafts, and other non-meteorological services such as in-flight messaging or tracking.

Business, Regional aircrafts and General Aviation (i.e. small aircrafts) represent in order of importance the main commercial targets of the PLANET service.

The main objective of this ARTES 3-4 Applications (Newcomers) project is to develop a prototype of the PLANET service with a representative sub-set of in situ-sensors and weather products to efficiently demonstrate the solution to potential users of General Aviation (i.e. small aircrafts).

The ISIDE 4 Africa (I4A) project is an extension of the ISIDE project. I4A focuses on the provision of educational content and Internet access to African primary and professional high schools and to health and cultural centres. In a nutshell, I4A aims at providing a one-stop-solution for the collection, organization, delivery and use of digital educational contents based on the ISIDE platform/service.

The aim of the project is to develop a low cost end-to-end solution for satellite based triple-play services. The platform uses existing infrastructure to enable TV, telephone and IP communication. Satellites are used for downlink communication and different terrestrial media are used for the return traffic.

Recent market studies have highlighted a significant business opportunity in the development of a satellite-based Video On Demand ("VOD") solution.
VOD content is pushed (therefore the name "PushVOD") by the network operator onto the customer´s digital TV receiver. Content is not streamed, but chopped into discrete “chunks” and broadcast.

This activity endeavours to leverage the prior development of a compact Ku Band filter into a complete multiplexer concept. Of particular interest is the design optimisation of the filter to minimize multiplexer footprint while maintaining or improving power handling and RF performance.

This project supports ESA in light of a changing regulatory and technically evolutionary environment in defending the needs of the satellite communication community to maintain future availability and growth potential of the frequency spectrum needed for the provision of satellite communication and broadcasting services.

The objective of this activity is to carry out a comprehensive measurement campaign at Ka-band in quasi-mobile conditions.

The project has developed a new IP over DVB encapsulation to provide Internet services over DVB broadcast networks. The current common encapsulation, Multiprotocol Encapsulation (MPE), while providing basic services, adds non-necessary overhead to the IP packet while not fully supporting the IP requirements for next generation networks. Amongst those is the support to the IP version 6 (IPv6) packets, dynamic address resolution and quality of service.

The L*IP Satellite System is a communication product hand-tailored for the Internet Protocol and its real time and non-real time applications. Video, voice and data applications can be supported via this network.

The aim of his project was to characterize the narrowband and wideband land mobile satellite and railroad radio channel at Ku/Ka band for mobile multimedia services including multipath and rain fading effects.

The objective of this Project was to design, develop and manufacture a bread board model in order to verify the performances of a TT&C Transponder implementing the ETSI standard EN 301 926.

This project by Patria Systems focuses to integrate state-of-the-art AD-converter (2 Gsps) and optical transmitters into a single Hybrid Device.

The goal of the project is to study the applicability of Cognitive Radio (CR) technology to satellite communications networks.

In this study exactEarth will assess and propose a possible Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme for the development/deployment and operation of the satellite based Automatic Identification System (SAT-AIS) infrastructure and provision of the SAT-AIS data and services to the institutional and commercial/private users.

The study is focused on the assessment of possible PPP schemes for the development, deployment and operation of the SAT-AIS infrastructure and/or provision of the SAT-AIS data and services, analysing the feasibility of a SAT-AIS implementation as a PPP in terms of complexity, risks and financial benefits for Satellite-Based Maritime Services actors.

This project seeks to elaborate possible public private partnership schemes for a future Satellite AIS service.

This project seeks to elaborate possible public private partnership schemes for a future Satellite AIS service.

The aim of the project was to develop two antenna products, namely a Receive/Transmit and a Receive only antenna. The antennas need to cope with the hybrid satellite and terrestrial environment of DVB-SH architecture and need to be designed according to automotive market constraints, which means that low cost, and highly integrated antenna units will be designed, tested and industrialized within the present project.

The objective of the study is the identification of security technologies and architectures that can ensure the secure delivery of corporate content over IP satellite networks.

The Espresso for schools project has
demonstrated that satellite is a viable and highly costeffective
delivery system for high-bandwidth, video-rich
applications, which enhance curriculum delivery in the
classroom of primary schools in the UK. During the pilot
operation Espresso has set up and run a complete endto-
end solution, including the active participation of two
hundred UK schools from fifteen UK Local Education
Authorities (LEAs).

The scope of the Sat3Play project is to
develop a satellite 2-way multimedia platform for the
provisioning of triple play. Triple play is the bundling of
consumer fixed voice, broadband Internet and TV
services from the same service provider.

The aim of the project is to implement the next-generation performance-enhancing gateway, optimized for broadband multi-media communications over satellites.

SATMODE is a programme to develop a low-cost, end-to-end satellite return system for interactive TV that enables individual viewers to connect with the content providers.

The aim of the project is to establish the specific needs of Greece, Balkans and South East European/Mediterranean countries in advanced broadcasting and telecommunication applications/services, and to identify how these could be efficiently served by satellite communications.

SchoolSat is providing fast access to the
Internet for schools in rural Ireland using satellite
technology. SchoolSat is aimed to set up, manage and
evaluate a pre-operational satellite based service for
compulsory schools in Ireland. It has as a clear objective
and expected outcome: the establishment of a business
and deployment plan for a fully operational and
sustainable service for the Irish compulsory school
sector based on a strategic mix of unicast and multicast
services.

The objective of youCache is to realise an idea born nearly ten years ago: SIMPLE ('Satellite interactive Multimedia Platform for Low-cost Earth-stations'). SIMPLE aims to develop a satellite based multicast web caching system where repetitious content is cached and served to the users without latency, saving costly satellite bandwidth.

The project targets the definition of an ESA DRS mission. From a technical standpoint, the project contributes to identifying and consolidating the requirements of an efficient EDRS solution which includes suitable payloads and frequency bands. From a business standpoint, the project intends to identify the various business and governance options that may exist for providing DRS services to institutional and commercial customers.

The project aims at the development of a rich multimedia content transmission system, with the demonstration of relevant attractive services. Services include broadcast of audio, video, web based interactive or vehicle specific services, directly from the satellite to moving cars, including information and entertainment to the driver and the passengers.

The overall objective of the HEO for ATM Study is the analysis of satellite communications system options focused on the provisioning of Air Traffic Communication services dedicated mainly to helicopter and small aircraft traffic on the north and polar routes of scheduled and non-scheduled flights.

This study project prepares the groundwork for the development of a second generation Sat3Play system. The project includes the definition and design of the following features: Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) in forward and return, Network Management System (NMS) improvement and Ka-ready Indoor Unit (IDU).

The aim of this project is to develop an easy-to-use satellite receiver. It will be able to continuously update itself from data published on the internet, thus providing satellite television viewers with a straightforward, complete, and updated solution for all of their viewing needs.

The goal of the project is the development of a channel measurement equipment useful for characterisation of the mobile channel for satellite based systems including hybrid systems with complementary ground components, verification of the QoS during the system deployment and
verification of the antenna subsystem of new receivers.

e-regSAT provides a satellite based
multimedia environment for regional information, in
particular for e-government. The service portfolio
includes regional communication, dissemination of
institutional information, distance learning, internal
communication and best practise support to Public
Administrations.

The objectives of the INSPIRE project are
to validate the assumptions behind, and the results
arising from, the initiatives addressing the Digital
Divide, to evaluate the effectiveness of DVB-RCS in
combination with wireless 802.11b/g equipment to
deliver cost effective broadband Internet services to
residential and business users located in nonmetropolitan
areas, and to validate the commercial
assumptions underpinning the business case for next
generation satellites foreseen to provide dedicated
capacity for broadband services.

A Common Test House for DVB-RCST compliance and interoperability testing.