REVOLVE addresses the rapidly growing need for performance and cost in emerging satellite missions focusing on antenna and radio front-ends targeting primarily telecommunication missions and exclusively civil applications. The project vision is achieved by cross-training of future leaders across key technologies and business skills to transform the EU space sector. REVOLVE places at its core the co-development of disruptive technologies that will radically enhance satellite radio links while drastically reducing costs and delivery timescales.
The project is structured around four technical objectives.
O1: Bring to fore new approaches for power-efficient and agile RF signal processing based on mixed signals and technologies, co-design principles as well as approaches inspired by optics
O2: Introduce into space fresh approaches for cost efficient manufacturing of high performance subsystems capitalising on combined exploitation of composite and synthetic materials, latest additive and subtractive processes as well as packaging technologies for smart systems
O3: Demonstrate step-changes in overall performance cost and size upon integration of smart and agile RF systems with signal processing capability that exploit mechanically actuated RF components, smart RF surfaces as well as innovative deployment schemes
O4: Accelerate the adoption of disruptive solutions for radio link management for the benefit of the European space sector and wider society by focusing on mission-informed RTD, developing pertinent demonstrators, establishing roadmaps for future development and exploitation and promoting innovation
The REVOLVE project trained seven Early Career Researchers to successful conclusion of PhD in parallel with their employment to the project. The consortium involved five partners (two academic and three industrial), all bringing World recognised expertise into the team. The project benefits from heavy involvement of Thales Alenia Space, Europe’s largest satellite integrator. The German SME Large Space Structures brings its leading technology on deployable satellite antennas while the Spanish technological centre Idonial contributes state of the art manufacturing technologies. The team is completed by CNRS and its IETR laboratory, Europe’s leading centre for research on electronics and telecommunications while the consortium is led by Heriot-Watt University that hosts Scotland’s and the UK’s largest laboratory for space electronics.
