Nebula Public Library

The knowledge bank of ESA’s R&D programmes

Format: 2023
Format: 2023
Format: 2023

217 results found
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Hardware/software (HW/SW) co-design refers to the simultaneous consideration of hardware and software within the design process, employing tools such as virtual platforms. A Virtual Platform is a software based system that can fully mirror the functionality of a target System-on-Chip (soc) or board, combining high-speed processor simulators and high-level, fully functional models of the hardware building blocks, to provide an abstract, executable representation of the hardware to software developers and to system architects.

Germany

TDE

T701-602ED

TERMA GMBH

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There is increasing interest in intra-satellite optical communications, which can be higher bandwidth, lower power, and better EMC compared to the electronic counterpart. Optical transceivers are at the core of such links. for the terrestrial market where transceivers are often delivered in non-hermetic packages but for space applications, non-hermetic packaged devices present higher risk. However, if the reliability of non-hermetic packaged devices can be demonstrated it can lead to an order-of-magnitude cost reduction.
 

Spain

TDE

T723-608ED

ALTER TECHNOLOGY TUV NORD S.A.

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In the previous activity GSTP de-risk activity the use of Additive Manufacturing technology for the manufacturing of antennas for high temperature applications was proven feasible, allowing mass and cost reduction in the final part. Additionally the RF performance showed promising results, despite of the inherent the geometrical deviations and a rough surface finish.
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Germany

GSTP

GT1A-009MS

HPS GMBH

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4D printing is an emerging technology where a ?smart material? can respond in a pre-programmed way to an external stimuli. Significant advances in computer aided design, additive manufacturing and materials science have opened up the possibilities of self-assembly systems, self-healing and material property alterations. 3D printing layer by layer allows complex geometries to be built, with multi-functional properties. The current materials capable of ?4D printing?

Austria

TDE

T724-603QE

RHP-TECHNOLOGY GMBH

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More and more complex functionalities are implemented in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), which are currently procured for a very large part from U.S.A manufacturers. In order to avoid export license, to ensure European non-dependance and to have competitive products, ambitious and coordinated projects - funded by ESA, CNES and EC - have led to the development of the BRAVE family. The current family is composed of three products: ;NG-MEDIUM, NG-LARGE (both in 65nm technology) and the NG-ULTRA (using FD-SOI 28nm technology).

France

TDE

T723-611ED

NanoXplore SAS

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Crew health is a fundamental concern for any long term space mission. Different health-related projects are carried out by space agencies, including: continuous health monitoring (e.g. physiological data monitoring, muscles and bones mass loss studies), medical diagnosis and care using ultrasound. Most of these studies are however conducted independently relying on different assistance and medical systems.

France

TDE

T314-005MM

MEDES

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Waveguide switches are extensively used in microwave systems for space. Mechanical switches are mostly used when a low number of actuation are required
such as performing redundancy for Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) or selection between polarizations or antennas. Thanks to their excellent low insertion loss characteristics, mechanical waveguide switches are preferred.
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Switzerland

GSTP

GT17-041EF

ALMATECH SA

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Microvibrations are a critical issue to more and more ESA missions and represent a significant technical challenge due to the stringent stability requirements of the payloads. The ongoing TDE activity ?High performance microvibration isolation system? is developing a very promising semi-active isolation technology based on electro-magnetic shunt damper, which can be used to isolate either noise sources or payloads.

United Kingdom

TDE

T215-017MS

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY

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Advancements in semiconductor technologies like INP and MHEMT have made low-noise amplifiers (LNA) possible for increasingly higher frequencies. Currently efforts are taken to reach frequencies close to 1 THz. Aggressive reduction of the gate length has been essential in this progress, but is becoming less effective with gate lengths approaching 30 nm scale. New technological approaches are needed to reach thz frequencies. New material systems are being investigated, especially those based on antimonides.

Germany

TDE

T106-603EF

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft

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Achievements and status: 

Germany

GSTP

GT17-137TIak

Kampf Telescope Optics GmbH

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