Projects

The Multi-Voltage Power Processing Unit (MVPPU) concept is a modular PPU that can be tailored to operate different thruster technologies, and thrusters of different power ranges, by selecting its modules among a variety of building blocks developed by Airbus Crisa. This specific project scope is focused on Hall Effect Thruster technology application.

The objective of this activity is to comprehensively explore the application of generative AI within the SatCom industry. This includes understanding the current state-of-the-art in generative AI across various sectors and identifying how these tools and techniques can be adapted for SatCom applications.

The objective of the activity is to develop and test an end-to-end system simulator that provides performance indicators which are key for the development of UAV satellite terminals with the target improvement of enabling key system tools for the development of UAV satellite terminals.

The objective of the STRIVING cIU in-orbit validation/demonstration project was to gain flight heritage for the Beyond Gravity Finland Automotive/COTS component based Interface Electronics products.

The project aims at reaching TRL8 for the CASTeC software as a service platform, which is an add-on functionality to Mission Control Software, implementing advanced telemetry checking in support to operations of satellites constellations. CASTeC provides early and context-based identification of anomalies in the behaviour of satellites, and identification of correlated events and telemetries, enabling fault isolation and mitigation strategies definition, supporting the troubleshooting operations. CASTeC also provides estimates of the Remaining Useful Life of the monitored satellite components.

The Airbus Italia Versatile Antenna Control Unit ( V-ACU) project was focused on the development, qualification and integration of a new antenna control unit capable to manage in house conceived tracking algorithms and free of any export control restriction.

“Demodulator supported by Artificial Neural Networks” aims to evaluate the benefit of an AI-enhanced demodulator compared to a traditional implementation. The main objectives are designing and testing an AI model for physical layer processing tasks, such as symbol soft de-mapping and channel decoding. The ultimate integration into an FPGA-based soft-GPU platform demonstrates the capabilities for onboard satellite applications.

Within the MOCA project AMOS develops a medium-size (1m-2m) optical communication antenna product for high-performance use cases. Its design, including adaptive optics technology, is optimized for optical communications and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The goal is to propose robust and cost-effective optical antennas for demanding links.

ANELOQC is an ambitious project that aims to develop an APD-TIA receiver for 1550 nm detection at data-rates of 2.5 Gb/s with a bit-error-rate of 10-6 at a state-of-the-art sensitivity of -43 dBm.

The TANNDEM project aims to design and test a demodulator supported by an artificial neural network (ANN). This demodulator will be part of current communication standards such as 5G, DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting), Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), and Internet of Things (IoT) for physical layer processing tasks: demodulation, de-mapping and channel decoding in satellite communication (Satcom) applications.

In this activity, a new class of RF components addressing future needs for ground segment network equipment in Q-, V-, and W-bands is developed. These components are produced monolithically using new Additive Manufacturing (AM) process with finer resolution to ensure lower insertion loss and better axial ratio (due to avoidance of assembly/alignment and interfaces) as well as lower production costs.

The R&S®CMX500 mobile radio tester from Rohde & Schwarz brings the satellite down to the lab. The instrument provides different user equipment (UE) testing capabilities that cover the entire 5G device development lifecycle - from design verification to conformance testing.

The LAND project aims to design, fabricate and test a large area 100 x 100 micrometer free space coupled superconducting nano-wire single-photon detector for quantum key distribution and photon starved optical communication applications.

The general objective of the activity is to identify promising services in case wearables can communicate directly with communications satellites within the next 5 years. Five short-term Proof-of-Concepts are demonstrated with current satellite IoT systems. 
The activity shall stimulate the discussions around wearable satcom and – more in general - shall trigger a notion that satcom could be economically an option for the wearable market.

SatNEx IV activities aim to study medium/long term directions of satellite telecommunication systems for any of the commercial or institutional applications that can be considered appealing by key players but still not mature enough for attracting industry or initiating dedicated ESA R&D activities.

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.

Elaborate a vision and propose a strategy for the satellite telecom sector based on an innovative yet realistic technology roadmap, to both alleviate risks and exploit opportunities of the “Digital Disruption” that will affect most sectors of the world economy, and the IT and media industry in particular, in the coming decade.

Govsatcom services shall be provided to European Public Safety entities thanks to different means : classic commercial services, adequate procurement schemes to ensure immediate and guarantee access on either commercial assets or governmental assets, or dedicated Govsatcom assets. The aim of Securesat study is: first, to assess the Users and Mission requirements for Govsatcom communications, secondly to identify existing (or soon to be deployed) assets and adequate procurement models that can answer to these requirements,and then to identify the remaining gap and to define complementary new assets to fulfil the full set of requirements. The candidate solutions shall be evaluated through a trade-off to identify the best solutions (taking into account cost-effective parameters). Among the future assets, the development that could be part of a precursor will be identified and a first design will be realised.

The project studies the best approach for implementing feeder links in future Non-Geostationary communication constellations:

• RF feeder link using Super High Frequency bands (Ka or Ku)

• RF feeder link using Extremely High Frequency EHF (Q/V and/or W)

• Optical feeder links

Different Low Earth Orbit (LEO) scenarios are implemented to simulate the feeder link designs with a focus on topology, implementation, operations and service-level impacts.

The output of this study is a roadmap of payload equipment supporting flexibility in the 5G environment.

This study aims to identify synergies between SatCom and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT, but blockchain in pàrticular) as well as the preliminary definition for the architecture most suited for the implementation of a SatCom+DLT mission.

The motivation behind this project was the fact that extensive research is ongoing within (terrestrial) telecommunications to develop and standardize future mobile networks without much thought of the potential exploitation of satellites. At the same time, research specific to satellite-based telecommunications is just a fraction of its terrestrial counterpart and often said to be at least 5 years behind. By looking at new technology, standardization, and concepts in the terrestrial domain, we wanted to identify a number of key areas where the satellite industry can adopt or reuse in order to close this gap.

The CYBERSAT project aims at investigating the effects of the current and upcoming cyber security regulations issued at European level on future satellite communication (SATCOM) systems and services.  The twofold objective is, on the one hand, to identify and analyse the cyber security regulations and to assess their impact on the design, development and operations of SATCOM systems; on the other hand, to identify new SATCOM service opportunities fostered by these regulations. 
 

The purpose of the project is to perform a study on the Integration of Satellite Backhauled HAPS in Future SATCOM Networks. The project covers a case selection and scenario definition, followed by a suitability analysis, identification of necessary adaptations in the 5G standard and development and validation of the adaptations. The project ends with the conclusions, roadmap and recommendations.

The project studies the applicability of virtualisation and softwarisation technologies to satcom network platforms. It will determine the benefits and the challenges associated with the integration of satellite infrastructures into future cloud networks.

The OpenSatCom project analyses the relevance of open-source methodology models for the satellite communications sector, where such models can provide benefits and how can the European Space Agency contribute to assist relevant existing or new open-source projects. Taking into account the recommendations derived several open-source sub-activities are implemented.

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.

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.

Unhindered access to frequency spectrum is of fundamental importance to the whole satellite services sector and hence to the manufacturing industry it supports. This activity supported the satellite community both in the run-up and aftermath of the World Radio Conference 2019, and initiated preparation for the 2023 World Radio Conference.

The SPECSI project examined the role of satellites in future communication networks and applications in 2020-25. It studied emerging ICT trends to identify future opportunities for satcom and their associated system propositions. The outputs of the study are designed to help ESA understand how the European and Canadian satellite industry can be best supported through its ARTES programme.

It is expected that commercial and statutory maritime communications will experience major changes during the next two decades.

Through its activities, ALIX supports the satellite communication community to engage with 3GPP in order to develop contributions and advocate positions favourable to the SatCom sector within the 3GPP standardisation process such that they result in tangible industrial opportunities.
The project gathers organizations from the satellite communication community each holding key positions in 3GPP and ETSI as contributors, rapporteurs of study items or chairmanship of Working Group.

EdgeSAT explores the applicability and implementation of edge networking concepts in satellite networks in order to identify and characterise the resulting opportunities for Satellite Network and Service providers as well as Satellite terminal manufacturers. As part of this mission, it specifies and validates a SatCom enabled edge node.

This study posits a design and delivery solution for a multi-orbital layered satellite constellation, researching capability gains exploiting a cross-vertical space segment. It discusses technology and economic freedoms and constraints, and identifies markets aligned to a multi layered satcom solution.

Artificial Intelligence for satellite communications will impose new requirements on computer processors, which will have to support large workloads as efficiently in harsh environmental conditions. Neuromorphic processing (NP) is emerging as a bio-inspired solution to address pattern recognition tasks involving multiple, temporal signals and/or requiring continuous learning. The main merits of this technology are energy efficiency and on-device adaptability. 

A low-cost actuator (BGA name “LA15”) was designed minimising manufacturing costs and assembly labour effort. The selected design was successfully tested in the frame of two different test campaigns proving the suitability for all kinds of space mechanisms.

THRIMOS addresses the current need for automated, optimized and systematic RF measurement tasking driven by factors associated with increased space object catalogue, especially for NGSO, for optimized RF ground infrastructure and RF-link usage.
In addition, the THRIMOS web-based interface provides a user-friendly multi-user experience for any distributed team involved in the RF management tasking enterprise.
 

Archangel Lightworks are performing demonstrations to prove the viability of free space optical links within 5G backhaul architectures in simulated real-world conditions. In an environment where spectrum is constrained and expensive, this project offers a pathway to more capable and resilient connectivity for 5G networks, demonstrating important benefits in vital areas like disaster response and Critical National Infrastructure networking.

This project covers the realization of an innovative Frequency Converter prototype of the WIF2C product meant to be used for LEO/MEO/GEO applications. Its concept differentiates from existing solutions by its integrated, flexible, modular and configurable design able to support multiple wideband frequency up/down conversion chains for current telecom satellite platforms and future trends.