ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8672
Open Date: 10/05/2016
Closing Date: 19/07/2016 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 16.1TT.77
Prog. Ref.: ARTES 5 Sub-El. 5.1
Budget Ref.: E/0505-01B – ARTES 5 Sub-El. 5.1
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+LU+CZ+RO+CA
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / AOCS & GNC / Guidance Navigation Control (GNC) / Radars, lidars, GNSS receivers
Technology Domains: Onboard Data Systems / Microelectronics for Digital and Analogue Applications / Digital and Analogue Devices and Technologies
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product & Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Product Division
Contract Officer: Dean, Andrea
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 10/05/2016
Update Reason: Tender issue

The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test a low cost GNSS navigation receiver for Geo satellites, with special emphasis on the RF front-end. Targeted improvements: Drastic cost reduction as compared to currently available GNSS receivers (200 kEur target).Easier and cheaper ground operations. Description: of the actual position of the satellites. This is mostly due to the fact that space GNSS receivers come from an instrument background rather than a telecom equipment development. Several studies have identified the benefits of having a GNSS receiver as part of the orbit control system for GEO/GTO satellites operations. The main improvements are in terms of operations, autonomy and cost. Indeed the GNSS receiver can determine the orbit thus giving autonomy to the AOCS, and hence simplifying the ground operations and reducing their cost. A currently running Artes 5.1 activity is studying design trade-offs for the integration of a space qualified GNSS chip set (AGGA-4) into the on-board computer. This is one area of cost reduction which is being explored. The proposed activity aims at revisiting current navigation receiver implementations by assessing the different cost contributors, carrying an extensive trade-off analysis as to define an architecture and physical implementation compatible with the typical cost of standard telecom equipment. Special effort shall be made for a compact and cost-efficien complete RF frontend. The re-use of existing building blocks is possible providing that this remains compatible with the cost target. An Elegant Breadboard (EBB) of the GNSS receiver including the newly designed complete RF front-end shall be manufactured and fully tested. The EBB may rely on existing hardware like demonstrator board for the processor, TM/TC and power supply functions. Work Logic:- Review of current implementation and GNSS receiver requirements.- GNSS Receiver RF front-end architecture trade-off.- Design, manufacture and test of the GNSS receiver EBB.- Conclusions and way forward.
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