Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Low-profile/drag Electronically Steerable Antennas for in-Flight connectivity

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 (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

IA - Innovation action

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-CS2-CFP10-2019-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

TTI NORTE SL
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 770 000,00
Address
CALLE ALBERT EINSTEIN 14
39011 Santander
Spain

See on map

SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Noroeste Cantabria Cantabria
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 100 000,00

Participants (1)

My booklet 0 0