Objectives

The objective of ANCORSAT is to identify the 5G NR IoT technical requirements in various satellite network scenarios in LEO and GEO, to define specific virtual network functions – at layer-2 and above – that could comprise a satellite network slice, to design and develop an end-to-end testbed to demonstrate satellite IoT use cases for agile 5G network configurations, and to contribute in 5G definition of network slicing architectures.

ANCORSAT aims at the agile and efficient management of satellite network resources, in particular in the return link (connection to gNB on board satellite), but also the ground segment resources (gateway) in both, forward and return link, using several techniques, highlighting a new algorithm for radio resources management in the return link, using simulated annealing when there is congestion, and virtualization techniques in the ground segment (implementation in Virtual Machines).

Challenges

The key challenges in ANCORSAT include identifying and optimizing state-of-the-art technologies for satellite-specific IoT applications, as there are currently no off-the-shelf solutions designed for such use cases. This emerging field requires significant adaptation of existing 5G and IoT technologies to meet the unique demands of satellite networks, such as high latency, dynamic resource management, and seamless network slicing. The lack of readily available tools further complicates efforts to implement and test agile network configurations for satellite IoT services, highlighting the need for innovative, tailored solutions.

System Architecture

The 5G IoT Satellite network is compromised of three main blocks:

• Radio Access Network

• Transport Layer

• 5G Core Network

The ANCORSAT testbed was designed to introduce the concepts of network slicing, Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and open-source Management and Orchestration (OSM) within a non-terrestrial communication scenario for IOT devices. The testbed is running on an emulated environment using opensource tools for RAN simulation and the orchestration of the core network functions. The testbed environment is in addition fully customizable and able to support different NTN scenarios (LEO, MEO, GEO) and offers state of the art slice orchestration technologies with the introduction of the inter slice scheduler. The testbed includes the following virtual machines:

• VM1: Running a simulated environment for the user segment This includes the traffic generator and the ISS.

• VM2: Running a simulated gNB in regenerative mode and using NETEM for SATLINK simulation. 

• VM3: Running a ground station as modem service. Used for routing and traffic shaping us-er traffic based on network slice ID. 

• VM4: Running control plane NF’s.

• VM5: Dedicated UPF to 3 network slices.

• VM6: Dedicated UPF to 2 network slices.

• VM7: Responsible for the monitoring, management and orchestration of the open5GS NF’s.

Plan

The Project have the following implementation phases:

1. Reference Scenario Definition and State-of-the-Art Analysis

2. Requirements Engineering

3. Design Engineering

4. Testbed Development, Integration & Testing

5. Demonstration & Recommendation

Current Status

The project was concluded successfully in December 2024 with the final presentation held in ESTEC on 3rd of December 2024. The ANCORSAT testbed achieved TRL4 by the end of the project and a product development roadmap was proposed to increase the TRL.

Companies

OQ Technology Sarl

https://oqtec.com/

Luxembourg

University of Luxembourg

https://wwwen.uni.lu/

Luxembourg

Leafspace Srl

https://leaf.space/

Italy

Objectives

The objective of the Romantica ESA study activity is to develop Radio Resource Management (RRM) techniques for the new generation of commercial Very High Throughput Systems (VHTS).

These RRM solutions are capable of exploiting the functionalities of these new satellites systems based on active antennas and on-board processors in order to maximize the system throughput, while maintaining good Quality of Service (QoS) for all the interactive applications of a satellite telecommunication system (i.e. video streaming, web, ftp and VoIP traffic sources).

Challenges

The main challenge of the program is to research innovative RRM solutions able to follow in real time the fluctuations of traffic, while considering some typical traffic models, not uniform traffic maps and different classes of user terminals.

A critical task is the definition of a fast solution able to optimize the beam hopping plan and to continuously readapt it in line with the changes of the traffic requirements.

Another challenging task is the investigation about a modern packet scheduler algorithm, able to select the packets considering their traffic QoS requirements, and integrate it in the final RRM solution.

System Architecture

The RRM demonstrator includes two RRM algorithms:

• an Advanced RRM solution, that optimizes at the same time the system resource planning and the packet scheduling management.
• a Benchmark RRM solution, that optimizes only the packet scheduler

The general scheduler architecture of the Advanced RRM algorithm is presented in the next figure.

These main logical blocks are presents:

• The “traffic flow generator” that generates IP packets
• The “queue updater” manager that controls the queue status, filtering the overall packets generated by the previous logical block and selecting only the packet present in the queues for each illumination plan loop.
• The “Proportional Fairness Exponential Rule” (PF-ER) module, that deals with QoS requirements for the different traffic flows and in particular the QoS-class-based deadlines of the packets.
• The “TM-PPD” algorithm, that is able to optimize the illumination plan and to calculate the offered, usable and unmet capacity
• The “Final Scheduler”, that performs the second level of packet scheduling and identifies which packets in the queue have to be sent

The benchmark RRM architecture is presented in the next figure.

Here the illumination plan is not optimized at each iteration, but it is provided as input and a Round Robin scheduling approach is applied.

Plan

The Romantica study addresses 4 Tasks:

1. Definition of a system scenario to be considered when investigating the innovative RRM algorithms (coverage, satellite configuration, user terminals, traffic models)
2. Investigation of two solutions, a Benchmark algorithm (beam hopping and packet scheduling with separated optimizations) and an Advanced RRM algorithm that optimizes at the same time the system resource planning and the packet scheduling management
3. Design of the architecture of the RRM, defining the functions implemented in the different parts of the system architecture (satellite payload, Gateways, dedicated Network Management System facilities)
4. Development, validation and test of the RRM demonstrator tool

Current Status

The project has been completed. The final RRM Demonstrator software has been developed and tested successfully.

Companies

Airbus Italia S.p.A

http://www.airbus.com/

Italy

Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni (CNIT)

https://www.cnit.it/

Italy

Objectives

The Ge.Lo.Sy. Project focuses on the definition of a low-cost on-board geolocation technique. It must provide a preliminary design of the solution which is verified and validated at the laboratory level through the implementation of a proof-of-concept breadboard.

The figure shows the process of detection of radio frequency interference (RFI) which highlights the critical phase of defining the arrival direction to geo-locate the source or interfering sources present both in the coverage area of the satellite antenna and outside of it.

The proposed solution must be easily implemented on board both from the antenna side and from the transponder side. It must be able to act on a single satellite without having to use complex mechanisms on board. This gives the possibility to be integrated into the already defined SATCOM payload design, with reduced impacts on implementation costs.

Challenges

The interest of SATCOM commercial operators in hosting an adequate anti-interference and anti-jamming (AI / AJ) subsystem on their payloads is growing. This interest is stimulating satellite space agencies (National and European) and satellite manufacturers to focus their attention also on effective AI / AJ solutions for the commercial market. Due to the implementation and integration costs of an adequate AI / AJ technical solution in a commercial context where the requirements in terms of protected bandwidth and performance are high, operators are focusing their attention on the techniques based on the direction of arrival (DoA). This choice allows to define and propose a more effective and accessible technology in terms of implementation feasibility and costs that can be customized on a wide range of satellites.

System Architecture

The architecture of the technical solution defined in the study is described  in the following figure:

Plan

The project is structured in five main phases: a. Identification of the RFI Scenarios and Reference Mission; b. Definition of RFI Geo-location techniques and algorithms; c. Detailed design of the selected RFI Geo-Location System; d. Design of RFI Geo-location System Breadboard; e. Breadboard Manufacturing testing and evaluation. Main Reviews are the Baseline Design Review (BDR), the Preliminary Design Review (PDR), the Test Review Board (TRB) and the Final Review (FR).

Current Status

The activity has been concluded with the Final Review held on November 2021.

The main results consists in the implementation of the Proof-of-Concept (PoC) used in indoor and outdoor laboratory environment, this last representing a scaled layout of the target solution implementation and utilisation scenario. The target solution has been defined as Radio Frequency Interferometric Satellite System (RaFISS).

The obtained results confirm the suitability of the proposed, chosen and tested solution for the definition of the interfering sources localisation at the ground from a single satellite.

Companies

Thales Alenia Space Italia

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space-italy

Italy

Objectives

Starting from existing C2 air interfaces the activity is focused on developing C2 solutions including network and security aspects. The activity addresses critical aspects like aircraft handover, network log-on, interference between flying elements, and security at physical and network layers. The system is validated, and its performance assessed in a testbed capable of emulating realistically, simultaneously and in real time the terrestrial and satellite links.

Challenges

To develop integrates solution for C2 communication (command and control) that including the network and security aspects. In particular the Project addresses the most critical aspects like aircraft handover and network log-on.

System Architecture

The CCD5 IS project builds upon the outcomes of the previous CCD5 project, which enabled the definition of:

1. A set of rules and mechanisms facilitating communication among all actors within the navigation scenario of remotely piloted UAVs.

2. The operational properties of the communication medium, including key technical characteristics such as data type and volume, transfer speed, operating frequencies, bandwidth, modulation type, and more.

3. The design of the physical communication interface (Modem).

The system architecture of the CCD5 project is structured as follows:

The CCD5IS activity advances the development of the CCD5 project, extending beyond the physical interface layer to integrate a complete network and security layer. This enhancement enables the seamless integration of satellite and terrestrial links in the 5030-5091 MHz band, providing C2 communications for unmanned aircraft.

The network and security layer manages the identification of all network participants, ensures continuous UAV tracking throughout all flight phases, and oversees connection management and message routing in both LoS and BLoS modes. It guarantees a seamless communication experience, facilitates UAV satellite connectivity, and ensures the required security levels within non-segregated civil airspace.

The system has been rigorously tested through the design and implementation of a comprehensive testbed, integrating both the physical and network layers in a virtual and realistic environment, allowing for the evaluation of the communication system under real-world conditions.

Plan

The overall duration of the program is 24 months. 

The program is divided into 6 outputs:

• Output 0: Defined Reference Scenario – to define the use cases for the new developments, and the scenario(s) in which they would operate.

• Output 1: Finalised Technical Specification – to define a complete, self-standing and traceable set of technical requirements for the new developments. 

• Output 2: Selected Technical Baseline – to select the technical baseline to achieve the activity objectives. 

• Output 3: Verified Detailed Design – to establish a detailed design and demonstrate that it can satisfy all the technical requirements. 

• Output 4: Implementation and Verification Plan – to establish all detailed plans necessary to successfully implement and test the deliverable items. 

• Output 5: Verified Deliverable Items and Compliance Statement – to implement the deliverable items, quantify their performance and demonstrate compliance to the technical requirements. 

• Output 6: Technology Assessment and Standardization document – to perform an assessment of the potential of the developed items for commercial exploitation and to provide a detailed description of the system for possible standardization.

The following milestones are foreseen starting from Kick-off (To):

• A Technical Specification Review (TSR) at To + 4 months

• Preliminary Design Review (PDR) at To + 8 months

• Detailed Design Review (DDR) at To + 18 months

• Final review (FR) and a Final presentation (FP) at the end of activities

Current Status

The activities are completed

Companies

PROGETTI SPECIALI ITALIANI S.r.l.

http://www.psi-space.eu

Italy

WideNorth

https://widenorth.com

Norway

EvoElectronics S.r.l. Società Unipersonale

http://www.evoelectronics.it

Italy