Project description
Effective solution for in-flight connectivity
Airline connectivity services offered to passengers and crew are of great importance to the air transport sector. Aircraft terminal antennas can assist, but this increases total costs. Electronically steered antennas (ESAs) have emerged as a viable solution because they can track two or more satellites simultaneously. Also, they have a reduced size compared to traditional mechanical ones as well as improved reliability. The EU-funded LESAF project proposes an ESA solution of reduced size and great efficiency for the next generation of in-flight connectivity services. This will be managed through the requirements definition, system analysis, technology assessment, prototyping and validation of ESAs. The project intends to demonstrate that ESAs represent the best technological solution for the needs of the aviation sector.
Objective
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.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
39011 Santander
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.