The goal of the INTERSTELLAR project is to build the next generation of high-speed data converters (Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog) to strengthen European excellence and competitiveness for Space and other applications
Higher integration with more channels on a board, lower power consumption, larger bandwidth and increased dynamic performance are all at stake here in order to enable the innovation expected by space industry and its customers, the satellite operators. Indeed, operators of currently foreseen satellite-borne telecommunications payloads are demanding more capable On Board Digital Signal Processors in order to interface effectively to complex antennas, flexibly generating hundreds of traffic beams and handling multi-GHz processed bandwidth per port.
This project will provide Space Industry with European key enabling data converters, ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) & DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), to:
* Ensure Europe’s non-dependence for such critical devices
* Boost Europe’s competitiveness
Circuits are most relevant for Telecommunications, Navigation, Earth Observation, and Science Missions.
The data converters of INTERSTELLAR show breakthrough innovation to reach Performances & Bandwidths beyond the state-of-the-art; these devices are:
* Multichannel ADC 12-bit resolution - very high bandwidth - high sampling rate - Output High Speed Serial Links
* Multi channel Broadband DAC, very high sampling rate, featuring unprecedented output frequency - Input High Speed Serial Links
In summary, here are 6 key objectives of the INTERSTELLAR project:
#1: Review the design and electrically characterize the multichannel 12-bit ADC then mature it up to TRL6.
#2: Design, manufacture, validate, electrically characterize the DAC and mature it up to TRL6.
#3: Validate the good behaviour of the ADC and DAC when submitted to mechanical and thermal stresses representative of space environment.
#4: Build and provide to partners demonstration boards to allow validating the devices, then to favour the adoption of the products by the market.
#5: Commercially evaluate the ADC and DAC within industrial applications and prepare the exploitation of the results
#6: Disseminate and communicate the results widely to maximize the impacts of the “INTERSTELLAR” H2020 project
Conclusion of the action: All initial objectives remained valid until the project end. INTERSTELLAR project has achieved most of its objectives and milestones for the period with relatively minor deviations.
