ESA SYMBOL

ESA SYMBOL: “Projet ESA VHTS System Emulator Based on Functional Modelling of the System"

Project Description:

Current analysis and optimisation tools require setting up and implementing very complex simulation scenarios before the performance of a VHTS system can be assessed. Moreover, those scenarios are specifically tailored to the coverage and payload configuration requiring already a detailed knowledge of the system design. This approach provides a high level of precision, but limits the optimisation capabilities and the flexibility to explore other design options. This results in specialised SW tools that are specific to a payload architecture and thus difficult to reuse and/or expand for different scenarios.  

To achieve simulation tools that are generic, reusable, maintainable, reliable and easily expandable, this activity will follow a functional modelling approach. By combining the principles of model-based system engineering with those of functional programming the activity will develop a system emulator that allows satcom engineers to explore the design space of satcom systems within given payload constraints. The emulator architecture shall be carefully designed to support and facilitate the characterization of different payload components via simple and parametric functions. This new approach has the potential to enable payload-constrained system analysis and optimisation not possible with current tools.

Funding: This project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) ARTES Advance Technology

Project Duration: 18 months (on-going)

Consortium: THALES Alenia Space (Italy), WISER (Italy), University of Luxembourg - SnT

Research Team:

• Dr Eva Lagunas (SnT) – PI

• Dr Vu H. Nguyen (SnT) - VPI

• Dr Tedros S. Abdu (SnT) 

• Dr. Puneeth J. Honnaiah (SnT)