TTI

The communications on-the-move (OTM) is a growing market. Existing solutions, based on parabolic antennas and land connections, pose limitations for OTM applications and, therefore, satellite communications on the move (Satcom-On-the-Move (SOTM)) market, is growing due to the growing demand for broadband in-flight, land and maritime transport connectivity. The solution are phased-array antennas, but their development and implementation have been delayed due to the need of advanced electronic circuits development without compromising costs. WIMMIC, is a design house for MMICs (monolithic microwave integrated circuits), specialised in designing multifunctional MMICs. WIMMIC uses a proprietary single multifunctional (MultiSingle) MMIC specifically designed for phased-array antennas. This MultiSingle MMIC is capable of mixing and amplifying signals for several radiant elements of a phased-array antenna simultaneously, in order to reduce the cost and environmental impact and to improve the efficiency of satellite communications, also allowing a reduction in costs. WIMMIC´s new MMIC will cost 80% less, leading to a 40% reduction on CAPEX costs of phased-array antennas. WIMMIC was born thanks to the technology transfer work and investment of the VC firm Triple Helix. Our partner in this proposal, TTI, has a long history of providing advanced systems for a large range of customers and will integrate our MMIC into their phased-array antennas. Both companies wish to, via SMEInst-1, further validate the business model and test WIMMIC´s first MMIC prototype in TTI´s phased-array antennas. Reaching large-scale production via SMEInst-2, WIMMIC will generate €293M and TTI €580M revenues by 2023. New jobs will be another result of full commercialisation of WIMMIC´s MultiSingle MMIC and TTI´s phased-array antennas.

Abstract The aviation industry has deployed a wide set of broadband networks and services to offer high-speed connectivity to passengers and crews. The aircraft terminal antenna is a critical item with a high impact on the total cost of ownership for the airline connectivity services. Electronically Steered Antennas (ESAs) are expected to disrupt the market thanks to their unique capacity to track two or more satellites simultaneously due to the multi-beam capability. The advantages of the ESAs over traditional mechanically steered antennas are especially valued by aviation sector customers because of their reduced size (less additional fuel burn costs due to the less additional drag) and improved reliability. The objective of LESAF project is to propose low-profile and highly efficient ESA solution for the next generation of In-Flight Connectivity services. This will be achieved through the requirements definition, system analysis, technology assessment, prototyping and validation of this type of new generation directional antennas. It will be demonstrated that this type of antennas can meet the stringest requirements impose by the aviation market while bringing superior benefits over their alternative technological solutions. Two electronically steered antenna prototypes will be produced and tested (TRL 6) in order WP1.4.4 partners to perform testing in a representative test environment representative of an aircraft installation (installation on real aircrafts is not envisaged). The main characteristics and innovations of LESAR are: 1) Separated Tx and Rx apertures based on a multilevel modular concept 2) Innovative vertical assembly model maximizing the efficiency and reducing the size, number of elements, power consumption and heat dissipation 3) End-fire contactless radiating elements 4) Broadband Analogue beamforming with phase delay compensation 5) Multibeam steering and signal processing.

Flight delays are costing billions of Euros yearly to the air transportation industry yearly. A large part of delays being linked to low visibility, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems are slowly coming to civil aircrafts and will eventually support pilots to land in any visibility condition. The Systems ITD of Clean Sky 2 aims to accelerate the development of new functions in cockpit systems for flight optimization in all conditions, increased crew awareness and efficiency. These new solution must however remain competitive in an industry under increasing cost pressure. To address these challenges, the 3DGUIDE project intends to demonstrate an affordable production method for high precision mm-wave waveguide antennas with Additive manufacturing (AM). AM is a promising candidate to produce antennas with complex 3D shapes, reduce assembly steps and decrease overall production costs. The selected process, Laser Powder bed fusion (L-PBF), a metal AM technology, is optimized by CSEM for high printing resolutions and will be benchmarked against traditional manufacturing processes through the manufacturing, testing and performances comparison of printed mm-wave slotted antenna array elements (e.g. WG, single slotted WG array). An inductive iris waveguide bandpass filter operating at 94 GHz is suggested as 3D printed phase shifter and dummy MEMS will be integrated into the phase shifter element structure for the project. Furthermore, a later integration of MEMS biasing lines printed in the WG structure will be tested. The project will target a TRL4. To reach these objectives, 3DGUIDE brings together an interdisciplinary team of experts including world-class researchers on radiofrequency and antennas (UPM), an industry expert in development and deployment of high frequency antennas in challenging environments (TTI), and finally an industry oriented research and technology organization well versed in leading and managing interdisciplinary international projects (CSEM).

5G demand requires the deployment of Very High Throughput Satellites (vHTS) than can satisfy the expected needs implying a growth opportunity for GEO satellites. This kind of spacecraft offers high capacity, large number of users and communication volumes (1 Terabit/s per satellite), with lower cost per GBPS, increasing the flexibility since the satellite capacity is allocated where it is needed. Future vHTS satellites will make use of Ka/Q/V gateways where the forward payload link will operate in K-band. Traditionally, demand for power at high frequencies has resulted in TWTAs as the logical amplifier of choice; this is due to the fact that traditional SSPA technology was unavailable at similar performance levels. However, technological advancements such as linearization, miniaturisation, and the use of different materials such as GaN, have levelled the playing field for SSPAs. The objective of FLEXGAN is to design, develop and test in a representative space environment (TRL 5) a low cost high power and efficient Ka-band GaN SSPA with RF output power varying capability, with high innovative & low loss recombination schemes and able to operate in multicarrier operation mode for on-board 5G satellite applications. The operational frequency band is 17.3-20.2 GHz and the objective output power 125W. The main innovations that FLEXGAN brings are: 1) Bring known terrestrial technologies by TTI to space; 2) SSPA able to provide the required output power maximising the power added efficiency to compensate the downlink fading losses; 3) SSPA able to transmit in multicarrier mode w/o memory effect; 4) Implementation of highly innovative linearization techniques; 5) use of lighweight composite structures to decrease the weight of the overall SSPA. In order to have a 100% European SSPA an MMIC based on D01GH technology from OMMIC will be designed, manufactured and tested. FLEXGAN will allow to reinforce and corroborate the use of GaN technology for space applications.