VIBeS project addressed the design, prototyping and validation of Virtual PEP agents to efficiently support the satellite-terrestrial convergence in upcoming 5G scenarios. The proposed approach leverages both NFV technology and cutting-edge web protocols. To assess the proposed solutions, a highly configurable Proof-of-Concept testbed was developed and tailored for the experimentation of broadband services aligned with 5G use-cases and verticals.

Development, manufacturing and testing of an Engineering Model of a compact AFSIW four channels Ku-band input multiplexer for broadband applications.

In HENCSAT we have developed a novel concept based on bit-torrent and network coding technologies that provides more resilient networking that can be loaded closer to its full capacity.

HENCSAT empowered the study and testing of robust and powerful networking over heterogeneous satellite and radio links in potentially difficult mobile scenarios where packet loss and interruptions may occur. By applying Network Coding in combination with novel resource management significant improvements can be obtained over traditional approaches. Application areas include aerial, vehicular and maritime users with sources like photos, video and other critical data. The focus was specifically on video over multiple networks.

The project consists in advanced activities paving the way to NewSpace equipment, intended to cover the platform needs in terms of electronics. The key success factors are a drastic reduction of recurrent price and mass of the equipment based on three pillars : integration & standardization, low cost components and innovative technologies.

The mission of RHEA Cyber Security Centre of Excellence is to develop supporting technologies enabling agile and effective cyber-security services, including education and training, operations, research, experimentation, test & evaluation, supporting the needs of the European space community as well as the wider aerospace, humanitarian, critical infrastructure, and defence & security communities.

Thales Alenia Space is a major player in the LEO, MEO, HEO GEO, L2 or interplanetary satellite industry and has therefore a large background in systems and subsystems definition.

In particular, Thales Alenia Space is developing a new product line of geostationary telecommunication satellites, Spacebus NEO, more and more powerful where harness accommodation is already challenging.

The study of a new harness architecture based on a large flexible printed circuit board, associated connectors, intelligent connectors integrating multiplexing and demultiplexing functions will ease the harness accommodation for telecommunications payloads.

This activity aims to develop Engineering Models of fast locking connectors for cable assemblies compatible with standard SMA Jack connectors.

The objective is to identify on-board transmitter and receiver technologies that enable two-way VHF data exchange via Low Earth Orbit Satellite, according to the emerging VDES specifications.

Design, development and demonstration of innovative gateway and user terminal prototypes enabling a vast variety of Internet of Things (IoT) use cases and able to efficiently provide bi-directional Machine-to-Machine (M2M) services in GEO and non-GEO scenarios for both fixed and mobile applications.

The satellite broadcast market is under pressure. OTT is taking market share from DTH. Density and ease of use is more and more a requirement. However, there are opportunities for innovative products that support the high-level quality standards of the satellite broadcast market as well as the upcoming OTT market.

The project’s outcomes deals with the design, implementation and validation of a satellite gateway able to receive and manage the traffic transmitted by a large population of terminals asynchronously transmitting short messages with low duty cycle via a satellite communication channel.

Telco EGSE TMTC SCOE: Cost effective COTS HW elements and highly customizable SW layer for implementation of baseband TM/TC interfaces and related functions.
Telco EGSE Power SCOE: Implementation in UniverSAS® (existing product) of some specific enhancements identified for Power SCOEs tailored for Telecom Satellites. UniverSAS® product was already
successfully validated in over 50 Power and Launch SCOE systems.

QUIC is a new encrypted-by-default Internet transport protocol that accelerates HTTP traffic and which has the intention to eventually replace TCP. The project objectives are to identify the root causes of any shortfalls in QUIC performance over satellite, influence and propose changes to the specification, and evaluate them using a real-time emulation test bed. The results of this work are contributed to the IETF.

The project studies applications of dynamic spectrum management techniques to Satellite communications, with the goal of quantifying the potential improvement in spectrum utilization that can be achieved by applying collaborative and dynamic spectrum allocation techniques.

The M2M market is increasing fast and more bandwidth is required. Ku-band M2M services can offer this bandwidth but require low-cost front-end components to be accepted by the market. The SiGeM2M project is demonstrating the implementation of the complete front-end transmitter functionality in a low-cost and low-power SiGe RF IC.

Design and development of a prototype of a low profile aeronautical dual frequency band antenna designed for both Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Service (AMS(R)S) air-traffic management and other existing aircraft applications.

CODYSUN aims at investigating the benefits of new, forward looking dynamic spectrum access techniques, over currently existing methods to share spectrum among satellite services.

Development of a Heat Controlled Accumulator (HCA) for two-phase Mechanically Pumped Loops. The HCA is apart from an expansion vessel also able to control the evaporation temperature of the MPL P/L heat exchangers.

This project is aimed at the development of low-profile and low-cost hybrid mechanical-electronic steerable antenna concepts that will allow reception of the signal transmitted by Ku-band geostationary satellites to cars and other vehicles.

Using three proofs-of-concept this project shows how the application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques in the domain of satellite communications can offer improved performance and reduced operations costs.

Solid lubrication in ball bearings was an issue since the ceasing of DUROID5813. The aim of the SLPMC2 project was to develop a fully European material for cages in solid lubricated ball bearings. Several compositions were designed, manufactured and tested up to ball bearings. The best performing material showed lower torque as competitive materials. It will be produced by ENSINGER as TECASINT TSE 8591.

The objective of this project is to develop new functionalities on the new generation of miniaturised cameras. New features will be implemented on the MCAMv3 in order to boost the versatility of the existing design.

Lacuna Space Ltd provides a simple and reliable global connection service that links physical devices, such as temperature sensors and location trackers, to the internet. It uses low-orbit satellites which connect the devices to its network, enabling monitoring even in the most remote areas.

The project concerns the development of an L-band High-Power Dual-Polarization Feed Chain, mainly intended for future Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) satellite antennas. Radiating element and diplexers are integrated in the feed chain to allow simultaneous operation in receive and transmit mode. Envelope and mass shall be minimized to allow cluster arrangement in large, multiple beam, array fed reflector antenna architectures.

Aim of this project was the design of two GaN down-converter mixers with very high linearity. One mixer was a Ku-band mixer, the other one a Ka-band mixer. Both mixers have integrated baluns and an integrated LO drive amplifier. As GaN foundry supplier OMMIC (France) was used. The complete project duration was 24 months.

In this activity we perform a preliminary design of possible hybrid antenna solutions for future mobile terminals. The best solution is designed in detail. A demonstrator of the antenna is manufactured and tested to validate the most critical aspects of the design and the expected capabilities.

OrbAstro has matured the requirements for a Flocking Module, a sub-1U onboard plug-in module that wholly enables active formation flight and autonomous flock-level management for constellations/clusters of nanosatellites. OrbAstro built the simulation tools to stress-test these requirements, developed the associated K-/Ka-band RF subsystem to EM level, and carried out mission analyses to verify the value added by the Flocking Module.

The objective of this project is the assessment of satellite networks technology evolutions that can mitigate the effect of satellite latency on the user quality of experience, so that satellite networks can be integrated more seamlessly within the 5G ecosystem.

First steps in the development of a hybrid structure with high thermal conductivity has been completed. The structure, consisting of stacked graphite foils sandwiched between aluminium sheets with integrated hooks, can replace currently used two- phase heat transportation systems with associated mass and cost savings. Deletion of two-phase systems improves in addition thermal control system testing.

METAMORPHOSIS will define (a) cross-industry cooperation opportunities offered to the European and Canadian satellite industry when considering the convergence of SatCom with the 5G terrestrial business/solutions/technologies/operational concepts for the targeted verticals of transport, media and public safety, (b) integrated satellite terrestrial reference architecture enabling service integration across different verticals, (c) technology development roadmaps and strategic actions necessary for the European & Canadian industry to be able to address these opportunities.

OFDM techniques are currently well established in terrestrial mobile networks but have not found up to now significant use in the space community.
The project had an exploratory nature evaluating possible advantages of OFDM-like waveforms in broadband satellite applications.

To design and validate a joint BLoS (Beyond-Line-of-Sight) and LoS (Line-of-Sight) air interface for the command and control of UAVs in the 5030‐5091 MHz band, implement a UAV terminal prototype and to present a waveform design for standardization in the relevant bodies.

The study aims at identifying and analysing the opportunities that in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacture may bring to the satcom sector from a technical and business perspective - excluding active debris removal. Good innovation and development roadmaps are mandatory outcomes but they must be linked to credible business cases where total costs are exceeded by the financial benefits to operators.

This project demonstrates the feasibility of a fully software-defined satellite gateway/teleport implementation scalable to support handling of 5 GHz instantaneous RF bandwidth based on cloud technology and generic processing hardware. The DVB-S2/S2X/DVB-RCS2 modulation and demodulation is performed by processing of digitized I&Q samples on general x86 CPU hardware with cloud technology, without the use of FPGAs or GPUs.

QuadSAT’s project offers the satcom industry a dynamic new way to test antennas, by utilizing advanced drone and radio frequency technology. The system is an effective tool to help adhere to emerging SOMAP regulations, and provides a faster, cheaper, and easier alternative to traditional testing facilities.

Cloud transformation of Forsway’s hybrid satellite/terrestrial Xtend Hub for quicker deployments, closer integration with 5G/NFV networks, and higher innovation speed. The project is the first step towards creating a highly optimized system for connecting vehicles with a combination of satellite and terrestrial technologies.

SkyMon VSAT is a fully integrated VSAT monitoring and geolocation solution that closes the last gap to resolve satellite interference. It allows operators to detect, identify and locate satellite interferences originating from VSAT networks. SkyMon VSAT is the latest member in the market leading Atos SkyMon product range, a highly comprehensive toolset to effectively mitigate satellite interference.

The product developed in this project is reflectarray antennas that aims to provide RF performance comparable to conventional shaped reflectors for contoured beam applications or multi-aperture reflector farms for multiple beam applications, while offering advantages in terms of cost, accommodation, versatility, and ability to define the coverage late in the development plan.

Megaconstellations:
Power Check Out System
Tele Command Ranging (TT&C Check Out System) Payload Test System