ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10880
Open Date: 22/07/2021 11:54 CEST
Closing Date: 16/09/2021 13:00 CEST

Concepts such as Software-Defined Radios (SDR), multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) systems, multiple antenna approaches, chiplet and scalable building block technologies, and Remote Radio Head (RRH) are becoming fundamental blocks in operators’ capability for deploying efficient and flexible wireless networks. In parallel, the advent and proliferation of multiple radio communication networks and RF spectrum occupancy (local and global) present multiple options to complement GNSS with signals-of-opportunities. While this concept is already introduced in terrestrial telecommunications, several key aspects require consolidation and demonstrationto support „monitoring network as a service” in the high-accuracy PNT landscapeThe proposed activity shall demonstrate solutions with a breadboard of a flexible sensor associated to a remote processing architecture able to support future concepts of „Monitoringnetwork-as-a-service” for PNT.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- Consolidate state-of-the-art (SDR/MIMO/RRH, flexible RF front-end, etc.).- Derive the requirements on signal processing and architecture from the identified use cases.Study the ground/user implications and opportunities introduced by the technologies: homogenous/heterogeneous distribution of services and monitoring functions in the network, and performances trade-off.- Preliminary design the architecture of a new flexible PNT node/sensorrelying on state-of-the-art SDR/MIMO/RRH concepts.- Prove the key technologies for the foreseen node/sensor concepts as forming aground support network, leveraging on GNSS, LEO and ground signal monitoring and processing towards local, regional and global PNT users.- Experiments of breadboard implementation, both at laboratory and live signals campaign level.

Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Gian Lorenzo Casini
Initiating Service: TEC-ESG
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 6-B-II-Ground Receivers
Products Keywords: 4-B-4-l-Frequency Combs