Projects

This project represents the basis for enabling satellite systems using beam hopping capabilities. Beam hopping, based on the DVB-S2X transmission standard, enables time sharing of satellite capacity among different beams, making satellite systems more flexible and efficient. The satellite performs demultiplexing of the uplink signal and distribution via periodic switching of the satellite beam to different coverage areas. The switching time plan as well as the addressed coverage areas and coverage shapes can be reconfigured according to actual needs.
In the context of such activity, a modulator, two terminals, as well as a beam-switching payload emulator are developed using the DVB-S2X Super-Framing Format 4 waveform.

LOCOMO project is envisaged to design and develop a low cost and compact Ka-band mobile satcom terminal, which provides broadband on-the-move communications to emergency, governmental and security networks.

Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands (ADSN) has developed, and continuously updated over the past two decades, a non-explosive low shock Hold Down and Release System for its Advanced Rigid Array and Flatpack Solar Array families. Many hundreds of these systems have released a variety of solar arrays and other deployable systems with 100% success. The NELS program objective is to develop a substitute for the existing Hold Down and Release System, which is more robust and has an extended preload capacity.

The objective of this proposal was to design and develop the next generation of Mission Control Centre (MCC NG), to propose a complete and optimised solution to operate simply and maximize the capacity of future flexible payloads.

The aim of the study is to design, manufacture and test an EBB (Elegant BreadBoard) of an opto-microwave wideband reconfigurable receiver front-end (OWR-RFE) for future broadband telecom payloads.

This project investigates the possibility of providing an optical frequency converter based in integrated photonic circuit (PIC). In this project two main photonics platforms are investigated; Silicon photonics and Heterogeneous integration of InP-on-Silicon photonics. It comes in contrast that indeed integrated circuit provides more compact, energy deficient and low mass solution for the optical microwave applications.

Pilot Photonics has developed the world’s smallest and most versatile optical comb source based on photonic integration. Through PICSAL, its broad applicability to space applications including inter-satellite communication, fiber optic sensing, frequency generation, and frequency metrology is explored.

The challenge is that increasing throughput simply by increasing frequency reuse results in significant intra-system interference for co-channel beams in multi-beam satellite systems. The solution is to apply joint processing of the signals intended to the different beams at the gateway for interference management. This processing, precoding, ‘reverts’ the impact of the satellite RF channel and interferences.

This study analyses the requirements, constraints and trade-offs for a SatCom system for receiving multimedia services in a mobile, on-the-go (e.g. automotive) setting using Ka-band frequencies. The analysis targets both technical as well as business oriented points of views and uses a software-based physical layer simulation to verify the feasibility of the identified approach.
Results reach from technical answers like waveform design and end-to-end performance, over the quality of the experience for the user up to economic considerations like total cost of ownership and business cases.

The JAMES CCN3 project goal is the development of a RF test set-up using optical fibres as links between RF test bench and telecommunication payloads in AIT.
The first phase was dedicated to design the test set-up allowing gain stability improvement, to realize a representative breadboard and test it over temperature.
The second phase focused on the study and bread-boarding of a representative use case, featuring hundreds of accesses, with a solution involving optical wavelength multiplexing. It resulted in the validation of an end-to-end set-up, including elaboration of a TVAC compatible RF power probe.
The solution proved particularly suited to uplinks, while more work is required to operate in downlink, specifically due to sensitive components bias.

This activity is aimed at identifying and analysing services and applications for which the deployment of satcom mega-constellations could bring remarkable changes. After the identification and assessment of six promising areas of interest, a business case and gap analysis particularly highlighted three most promising areas in which potential applications and services could be developed:

•Weather monitoring and forecasting;
•Government and administration services;
•Artic transport.

Satellite services in the High North are utilised extensively for both communication purposes and for earth and climate observations. The project results are based on up to three year measurements at 20 GHz with co-sited meteorological data. They suggest that services can be provided with 99 % availability for systems with elevation angles as low as 3.2.

The project’s first objective was the development of a Data Collection Platform Transmitter for METEOSAT HRDCP as well as for SRDCP and GOES. The transmitter is an essential component within autonomous DCPs working in environments with little or even no infrastructure for communication and electrical power supply. The second objective was the definition and prototype implementation of a New Air DCP radio interface, the Enhanced DCP (EDCP) providing a service to a wider range of applications.

This projects aims to review and develop channel models, data and tools tailored for the design of High-Capacity Flexible Broadband Satellite Systems operating (Q/V and Ka Band) with a major focus on future system at Q/V Band.

The project was to design, manufacture and test a Q-Band 100 Watt class isolator EM capable to operate in full reverse power.

The ViaDrone activity develops and demonstrates a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in non-segregated airspace complying with current air traffic management (ATM) requirements. By developing air and ground communication systems to allow RPA missions in non-segregated airspace and enabling commercial applications for Drones. The activity includes the development of a CNS and a remote pilot system using SatCom, Radio and GNSS.

A high efficiency GaN based SSPA for avionics SATCOM applications has been developed. High efficiency with large HPA output back-off brought in by the Doherty architecture and digital pre-distortion linearisation provides passive cooling, flexibility of installation and size and cost savings.

Improvements of SPACEBUS 4000C family enable Thales Alenia Space to propose their customers more competitive solutions for payloads up to 14 kW & 1 ton mass, as well as electrical propulsion to enable such increased payload capacity.

The objective of the activity is to develop a design tool for RF analysis and optimisation of advanced reflector antenna systems that consist/involve periodic or quasi-periodic surfaces that can either reflect or transmit electromagnetic fields to fulfil certain radiation characteristics when illuminated by an external source.

A Ka band feed chain, especially designed for user applications is developed. Dimensions and mass shall be minimised to enable an increased number of feed chains per satellite in order to realise higher data rates.

The ASCENT project studied spectrum sharing between satellite and terrestrial networks, focusing especially on 5G pioneer bands from 3.4 GHz to 3.8 GHz and from 24.25 GHz to 27.5 GHz. Licensed shared access (LSA) is considered the most promising approach to implement sharing in pioneer bands. The ASCENT project developed an LSA testbed for these bands, proposing also cost efficient spectrum sharing between 5G satellite and terrestrial component for different verticals.

Mega-constellations are large networks of low-cost satellites, operating in Low Earth Orbit, providing low latency communication, worldwide coverage and low-cost broadband capacity. This study identifies promising services/applications based on mega-constellations, starting from user requirements, deriving the system architecture, assessing the business opportunity and identifying the required actions for the services/application implementation and commercial roll-out.

Critical public infrastructure is migrating to IP which makes optimization of hybrid networks essential to provide the performance needed.
The overall objective of the project is to develop a testbed to study QoS based routing in integrated satellite-terrestrial networks. Such networks provide multiple parallel or serial paths between the communication end points.

Sat4Train provides multi-bearers train-to-ground communication integrated with Satcom for railway applications, including train control systems. It is based on bearer-independency and separation of the application layer from the radio access technologies. It allows the use of any available terrestrial and satellite public communication service. Quality of service is guaranteed by cognitive algorithms, supporting the bearers selection on a predictive-model basis.

The SCAT project objective is to design, develop and prototype a miniaturized C-Band Transceiver for the management of remote controls and telemetry on Small Satellites, with the additional capability to be used as medium rate feeder link, up to 40 Mbit/s.
Moreover, SCAT project is aimed at lowering radio regulatory hurdles for small satellite missions.

The activity includes the design and development of the W-band beacon together with the propagation receivers and the manufacturing of the Cubesat platform that will host the beacon. The objectives are the undertaking of atmospheric channel propagation measurements of the signal from this beacon and the analysis and delivery the processed propagation data at W-band. This work will help prepare for future High-Through-Put satellite communication systems.

The triple band feed horn is addressing the increasing use of Ka-band payloads for broadband applications on satellite orbital slots that also provide TV services in Ku-band. This means that space assets at the same orbital slot can be used to deliver these services to end-user households via a single antenna.

Through the Artes C&G R&D project “MOB PPP” (Pre & Post Processors for L-band and S-band Digital Beam Forming GEO Mobiles) with ESA, Kongsberg Norspace has designed, developed and successfully qualified an EQM suitable for pre & post processing of digital beam forming L- & S- band mobile services satellites

The objective was to design, manufacture and test a high voltage power module breadboard within electronic power conditioners to enable operations at higher temperatures. An evaluation was performed on critical identified components specifically on Silicon Carbide High Voltage Diodes and High Voltage Capacitors. In the frame of this project, TAS-B has also evaluated a new technology item in order to sustain high temperature environment in potted HV Module.

The Sat>IP WiFi Hotspot idea is a device that closely integrates a traditional SAT>IP server and standard WiFi router into a single system. Primarily the device will be used in public spaces to convert broadcast linear TV into IP and multicast it over a network to a potentially large number of mobile (wirelessly connected) client devices.

Development and Qualification of a 30 GHz Dielectric Resonator Combining Multiplexer and Demultiplexer

The product developed in this activity supplements the industry’s preferred reflector modelling tool, GRASP, by adding fast modelling of feed chains as well as optimization capabilities. The new add-on product to GRASP will offer a unique single-tool solution for an end-to-end RF design of space born reflector antennas and reflector-based user terminals.

Development of the second generation Maritime Safety Terminal (MST) and gaining Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) FleetBroadband approval by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The VDES uplink testbed consists of a fast software based global system simulator, a hardware rack for ship transmitter or a satellite receiver testing, a software PL modulator/demodulator and a low power test transmitter.
The system is used to test VDES compatibility and system performance over a wide range of conditions.

The project entailed the development of an “Always Online” single enclosure, outdoor grade, data router capable of connecting local users and systems over wired and wireless Ethernet to remote sites vial cellular and satellite communications networks.

High performance, narrow-band, miniaturized filters for satellite communications in L and S band based on dielectric loaded cavities.

Providing a lower-profile antenna for Satellite communications unlocks larger markets as long as the price does not rise disproportionately. Our design offers on the relatively low profile achievable with the lens concept with uncompromised RF performance and at a cost comparable to that of a reflector based system.

The output of the current generation of digital processors, used on commercial satellite missions, is either at baseband, or a low IF. This signal must then be up-converted to the operating frequency of the spacecraft, such as C, Ku or Ka-band. The need for these up-converters significantly increases the cost per output of digitally processed payloads. This study has investigated if/how conventional frequency up-converters could be replaced with an Ultra-highspeed DAC’s

The aim of the project is to develop a Frequency Flexible Command Receiver Prototype Flight Model and to have it launched on board Eutelsat E8WB. Performance data are to be documented during unit production, Satellite IOT and after an operational period of 12 months.

The Ka-band feed positioner enables cross polarisation to be optimised, while
the terminal is transmitting. For 1.8 and larger offset Ka-band reflectors, this
saves a lot of installation time, because the AzEl don’t need adjustment. Having
set the AzEl for receive cross polarisation, the transmit will be a few millimetres
away, and this can be achieved in a few seconds by moving the feed.
For inclined tracking, the motorised feed saves cost, freight, installation time
and running costs compared to a AzEl solution. The feed can be fitted
retrospectively to an existing antenna. It is positioned by connection to TLE.