Projects

Optical feeder links of satellite constellation networks offer very high data rates and do not require frequency coordination, but can be affected by frequent disruptions due to cloud blockages. This project investigates, designs and demonstrates optical feeder link site-diversity mechanisms for satellite constellation networks to achieve the availability required for telecommunications services.

The proposed activity is the development and validation of a 160W Ka-band (27.5 - 31GHz) (Solid State Power Amplifier) SSPA with a European packaged 30W high-power amplifier (HPA) microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) targeting the need for professional up-link station of geostationary satellites and satellites constellations.

The role of the product in the context of the overall system/service of its target users is to provide a high power SSPA adapted to the future ground stations for satellites constellations.

The target for the packaged 30W HPA is, in addition to ground stations, to address the need for lower power user terminals.

Tech2CONNECT, led by CONNECTED, aims to develop a comprehensive IoT narrowband connectivity solution from space. Defining service elements and its configurations, and regulatory compliance in its Definition Phase, the Technology Phase focuses on refining and testing the space and network segments, including an Engineering Model of the payload and the initial implementation of the 5G NB-IoT NTN protocol stack.

The NGHT SmallSAT – Ground Direct to Earth (DTE) Laser Communication project develops a compact, low-cost, DTE laser communications system capable of providing up to 10 Gbps to meet the increasing demand for secure, high-data rate communications systems.

The objective of the project is to develop a compact magneto-optical trap, which can be used as a prototype for a quantum memory based on cold atomic gas for space applications. In the development, special attention is paid to the miniaturisation of the magneto-optical trap to reduce the size, weight and power consumption of the later quantum memory.

The Internet of Things (IoT) requires global coverage, which will only be possible to achieve via Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). Release 17 onward of the 3GPP® specifications include NTN capabilities, with manufacturers of NTN IoT products needing a laboratory based test-bench to test NTN Narrowband (NB)-IoT devices in a simulated space environment. Additionally, satellite network operators need the capability to evaluate system operation long before any satellites are in orbit.

The QUEST Project aimed to establish an offshore Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) delivery service by leveraging Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications. This on-demand drone delivery solution, powered by LEO SATCOM, enhanced logistics for offshore assets while ensuring safer, more secure, and efficient drone-based deliveries.

The MARitime LEO Insight Network (MARLIN) uses low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite and 5G cellular technologies to monitor fishing activity in near-real time. Fishing alerts (e.g., fishing events and bycatch incidents) are transmitted to a cloud-based management dashboard via LEO satellite during operations at sea, with high-resolution video and audio data captured on-vessel and transmitted via 5G upon the vessel’s return to port.

The capabilities of autoencoders are well known and space researchers and enthusiasts have developed multiple systems that improve the performance of the state-of-the-art compressor for space applications, limiting the bandwidth usage and consequently reducing costs.

In the framework of this activity, IngeniArs improves the useful data-rate by optimising the data to be transmitted via Variation Autoencoder AI models.

Such models can reduce the amount of data to transfer, encoding the information into a set of points within the AI model latent space. These points are then restored into the original information (the compression is lossy).

To validate these models, different use-cases (telecommunication, video stream, image transmission) are tested by highlighting how these AI models can enhance both transmission (upstream) and reception (downstream) systems.

Finally, for the upstream segment, a feasibility study related to porting the developed models into GPU@SAT, a space-grade AI accelerator developed by IngeniArs, is conducted.

Ka-band TX and RX beamforming module for low-cost Satcom-On-The-Move (SOTM) earth terminals.

An advanced collision avoidance service, especially targeting the LEO market and mega constellations, the project leverages the current commercial solution, Focusoc, aiming to add and merge information from different data suppliers to provide a fast and reliable response to final operators.

The goal is to develop and demonstrate in-orbit a 5G UE (terminal) nanosatellite subsystem that can be integrated into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and capable of connecting to 5G networks here on Earth.

The project focuses on developing Receiver IP Cores for optical communications, compliant with CCSDS standards for High Photon Efficiency (HPE) and Optical On-Off Keying (O3K). These IPs are designed to support future Deep Space and Earth observation missions, ensuring high-performance and reliable data reception in advanced space communication systems.

The activity integrates Raemis 5G core network platform with Non-Terrestrial Radio Access Networks, providing a next generation core network for satellite-based access compliant with 3GPP Release 17 standards. Focus is placed on the applications making use of these networks including Narrow band IoT, public safety and remote industry. Remote Industry may include verticals such as Mining, Oil & Gas or Agritech where poorly connected areas can benefit from 5G core network connectivity over Non-Terrestrial Networks. These industries can make use of narrow band IoT services for sensors and telemetry, low latency IoT services for industrial automation and public safety services for workers in these challenging environments. The gNodeBGW and the ability to deploy a 5G core across multiple regions using cloud-based technology is key to the successful deployment of NTN. Although the product is not dependent on satellite technology the deployment of NTN using satellite is dependent on the product proposed in this document. Enabling 5G cellular across multiple jurisdictions requires a dispersed 5G core that can home route data and locally break out data using various classifications that are defined by legislation in each jurisdiction. (for example lawful interception, commercial roaming agreements etc).

OPTIMUS develops a modular testbed to enable secure and interoperable optical ground station (OGS) network operations. Covered activities include automated pass scheduling, data delivery workflows, and real-time system monitoring to support seamless coordination across operators and service providers for future optical communication infrastructures.