Photonic Systems for next generation satellites

Lead Research Organisation: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Abstract

Space technologies, data and services have become indispensable in our everyday lives. Communications satellites (COMSATs), alongside optical fibre, are the main means of global data transmission. In fact, for a vast number of users, such as marine and airways fleets, autonomous cars, remotely located aid camps, and hospitals and schools in less developed areas, satellite communication is the only way to broadcast, navigate or access broadband services. Earth observation satellites provide immediate information in the event of natural disasters, and allow better coordination of emergency and rescue teams. Satellite-based technologies help increase the efficiency of fisheries and agriculture, and play an important role in transport by controlling air and maritime traffic. Both COMSAT and surveying services are critically dependent on the communication links between satellites in orbit and ground control stations. Increasing data capacity of these links and allowing frequency flexibility, which cannot be easily provided by established RF solutions, is long overdue. It is clear that industry needs a step change in technology.
Against this backdrop, the project focuses on using key advances in photonic integrated solutions to revolutionise satellite payloads (modules). An integrated photonics approach allows for several optoelectronic functionalities (lasers, photodiodes, etc.) to be monolithically integrated on a single chip. Such integration improves robustness, reduces losses between individual devices and, most importantly, offers ease of scalability, low mass and small footprint, creating great prospects to reduce the cost of satellites.
Through close collaboration with academic and industrial partners, this project will develop the world's first integrated, broadly tuneable, photonic-based Frequency Generation Unit (FGU) which can be the heart of satellite communication payloads. The advantage of a photonic FGU over the conventional RF-based solution comes from the great frequency agility of the photonic system, which will allow for the FGU to be included both in communication and earth observation satellites. Firstly, the FGU will form part of innovative communication payloads in communication satellites (transponders), allowing for high-throughput data links from satellites to ground stations and, in the future, between satellites. Furthermore, the FGU will also be deployed in earth observation satellites, allowing for reference-signal distribution inside the satellite using a flexible, lightweight optical fibre rather than a conventional coaxial cable. The use of a photonic FGU would dramatically reduce the weight of a satellite, eliminating the need for tens to hundreds of kilograms of coaxial cables (depending on satellite type), and make a significant monetary saving, given the cost of launching into orbit of $25,000/kg. Secondly, a novel architecture for a complete communications payload based almost entirely on photonics is going to be investigated. Replacing conventional RF components with integrated photonic sub-systems will result in an unprecedented mass and volume reduction, which, in turn, will lead to a reduction in the cost of in-orbit-delivered data capacity.

Planned Impact

Satellite technologies are an integral part of our everyday life. We all rely on communication satellites to obtain live streams of television, radio and telephone signals. Earth observation satellites provide us with information about our planet's physical, chemical and biological systems, data which is essential for meteorologists, environmentalists and policy-makers. Navigation satellites form the backbone of our emergency, marine, aviation and logistics systems. All these services have a tangible, positive impact on the whole of our society. The satellites enabling these services rely upon the communication modules which this project is aiming to innovate by using integrated photonics in place of conventional RF components. This will lead to an increased capacity and improved performance of next-generation satellites.
There are currently hundreds of communication satellites in operation, providing mobile and fixed (point-to-point-communication) services to billions of people worldwide. The development of most of these satellites has been driven by the commercial sector. The UK space industry is one of the biggest developers and exporters of communication and scientific satellites, and underpins many parts of the British economy, currently contributing over £11.8 billion thereto and directly employing over 35,000 people. The space sector is growing very quickly while remaining particularly dynamic and highly competitive. To maintain the UK's strategic leading position as one of the biggest producers of commercial communication satellites in Europe, innovative solutions such as the proposed photonic-based Frequency Generation Unit must be provided quickly. The novel photonic integrated communications payloads that will be developed through this project will have great potential to expedite the development of next-generation satellites by making them much smaller and, therefore, highly cost-effective. In the longer term, it will result in lowering the cost of satellite-delivered data, allowing for the creation of satellite-enabled networks (clusters of small satellites) that can bring digital opportunities in the most inclusive way to everyone, regardless of their location.
 
Description Thanks to the close collaboration between academia and industry throughout the project, we were able to establish key requirements for the DC power consumption of the future photonic equipment for satellite applications. Power dissipation is a key factor considered by the space industry, but it is very often omitted in academic research, resulting in lots of research outputs becoming non-implementable in the real-world applications. The outcome of this project is getting the research outcomes to be more likely implemented by industry.
Exploitation Route the results will be published.
The results has influence future funding and call for proposals
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Education

Electronics

 
Description Photonic solutions inspired by this project are being implemented by industry. (Details are restricted by contractual confidentiality)
First Year Of Impact 2019
Sector Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)
Impact Types Economic

 
Description Future of photonics research 2030 and beyond report to All-Party Parliamentary Group in Photonics and Quantum and Photonics Leadership Group (PLG)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL https://photonicsuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Future-Horizons-for-Photonics-Research_PLG_2020_b...
 
Description I chaired the international chapter on Aerospace - Integrated Photonic Systems Roadmap (IPSR) - International.
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
URL https://photonicsmanufacturing.org/2020_iprs-i_roadmap_chapters
 
Description Participation in the UK Photonics Innovation Chain at SPIE conference. I was a member in a Panel Discussion on "The UK Innovation Ecosystem Panel" (2021)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
 
Description Design and development of power efficient satellite optical links
Amount £1 (GBP)
Funding ID 2419569 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2020 
End 09/2024
 
Description Airbus 
Organisation Airbus Group
Department Airbus Defence and Space UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution I have initiated the collaboration. The main impact so far has been Airbus's increased interest in photonics systems, which will include FGU to be developed through this project as well as other photonic components to be purchased for the demonstrator.
Collaborator Contribution Attending meetings and providing detailed technical requirements for the system.
Impact PhD project proposal
Start Year 2018
 
Description European Space Agency (ESA) 
Organisation European Space Agency
Department European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Collaboration with ESA increased the impact of my Fellowship project. The outcome of my research has influenced ESA new call for proposals.
Collaborator Contribution ESA assessed and evaluated the research outcomes and confirmed it was beneficial and suitable for further industrial development. ESA provided an expert opinion on my project.
Impact This project has been fundamental to the creation of ESA_Lab@UCL Satellite Communication Theme, for which I was assigned the role of a theme leader. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary (photonics, satellite communication)
Start Year 2020
 
Description European Space Agency (ESA) 
Organisation European Space Agency
Department European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Collaboration with ESA increased the impact of my Fellowship project. The outcome of my research has influenced ESA new call for proposals.
Collaborator Contribution ESA assessed and evaluated the research outcomes and confirmed it was beneficial and suitable for further industrial development. ESA provided an expert opinion on my project.
Impact This project has been fundamental to the creation of ESA_Lab@UCL Satellite Communication Theme, for which I was assigned the role of a theme leader. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary (photonics, satellite communication)
Start Year 2020
 
Description Frauhofer HHI 
Organisation Fraunhofer Society
Department Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Photonic Integrated Circuits design
Collaborator Contribution support to Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) design
Impact Integrated Circuits are still in fabrication
Start Year 2020
 
Description RAL Space 
Organisation Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Department RAL Space
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution design of PIC packaging
Collaborator Contribution contribution to PIC packaging
Impact PIC package
Start Year 2019
 
Description ESA_Lab@UCL 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact The collaboration, called ESA_Lab@UCL, is one of the most comprehensive partnerships to date between the European Space Agency (ESA) and a university. It builds on existing co-operation between the two institutions in regard to UCL's research in areas relating to space applications.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019