Description
The objective of this activity is to develop and test a receive Q-band prototype, and a transmit V-band beamformer, both supporting2 beams scanning in a large field of view for the mobility market (e.g. aeroplanes, buses, trains). Targeted Improvements:Enabling technology for Q/V band user terminals for the mobility market (aeroplanes, buses, trains). Description:Today, terminal antennas are mainly exploiting the Ka- and the Ku-frequency bands. However, a growing number of satellite operators show interest in the emerging Q/V frequency band also for Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbits (NGSOs). This includes new concepts envisaging service links to base stations and backhaul in Ka- as well as in Q/V-band. Required components and beam forming networks are increasingly becoming available, especially at Q-band, but these neither address the specific requirements of the satcom market nor they cover the higher V-Band range. Aeronautical Q/V band terminals are under development in industry, although most activities address reflector antennas. This activity shall investigate a terminal antenna based on phased arrays in Q/V band, suitable for GEO or NGSO satellites and target mobility applications such as trains, buses or airplanes. The activity shall carry out a trade-off between different types of beamforming networks (BFNs) (i.e. serial, corporate, multimode) considering various implementations (i.e. waveguide, cavity, pillbox, lens, continuous transverse stub, planar, etc.) and identify the most suitable approach for Q/V band terminal antennas. The antenna shall be able to scan 2 beams in a large field of view (i.e. scanning up to 70 degrees from the boresight in all the azimuthal directions). The handover between 2 satellite beams shall be investigated. A Q-band reduced-scale prototype shall be designed, manufactured, and tested using available commercial of the shelf components (COTS). In addition, a V-band beamformer shall be designed, manufactured and tested. Footnote: On Delegation Request activities will only be initiated on the explicit request of at least one National Delegation. Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Small_and_Medium_Sized_En…