Desarrollo Tecnológico Avanzado de Dispositivos Pasivos en Tecnología Guiada para Cargas Útiles de Satélites

Título del proyecto: Desarrollo Tecnológico Avanzado de Dispositivos Pasivos en Tecnología Guiada para Cargas Útiles de Satélites
Entidad financiadora: CICYT (Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología)
Ref. TEC2010-21520-C04-01/TCM
Entidades participantes: Grupo de Aplicaciones de Microondas (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia), Grupo de Electromagnetismo aplicado a las Telecomunicaciones (Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena), Grupo de Sistemas de Radiofrecuencia (Universidad Miguel Hernéandez de Elche), Grupo de Electromagnetismo Aplicado (Universidad de Castilla La Mancha)
Duración: 01/01/2011 – 31/12/2013
Investigador responsable: Dr. Vicente E. Boria Esbert (Coordinador)
Número de investigadores participantes: 12 (Subproyecto GAM-UPV), 35 (Proyecto)

Abstract: Passive microwave components on board Telecommunication satellites have a major impact on the optimum global operation of their payloads. Moreover, next generations of satellite communication systems demand increasing requirements (some of them being multidisciplinary) to these components. Just to cite a few of them, we have higher degrees of miniaturization, reliability and connectivity issues (reconfiguration capabilities), advanced electrical responses (lower insertion losses, multiple pass-bands and increased selectivity), as well as capabilities for supporting wider bandwidths and higher power levels. All previous technological needs are explicitly recognised by the most relevant international (COM DEV and ORBITAL), European (TESAT and MESL Microwave) and Spanish (Thales Alenia Space Spain, RYMSA and AURORASAT) companies of the payload sector. As a consequence, the main aim of this project is to generate the required scientific and technical advances for developing new technological developments of passive components (essentially filters, diplexers and multiplexers) present in the satellites. In particular, efforts will be given to improve topologies as well as analysis and design processes of such devices to be implemented in more classical technologies (i.e. waveguides, coaxial cavities and planar circuits), to study the employment of other emergent technologies (e.g. hybrid waveguide-microstrip and substrate integrated waveguides) including tuning capabilities through micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and to incorporate advanced materials (such as electromagnetic band gaps and left-handed media) to increase miniaturization degrees. With the objective of transferring the new developed passive components and subsystems to the national and international industrial partners (who have provided support letters to this project), several breadboards and practical demonstrators will be manufactured and measured in the experimental facilities of the research teams. In this context, we will cooperate with the European Space Agency (ESA) in the generation of new models for predicting RF discharge effects (i.e. multipactor and corona) that can affect the passive components placed in the satellite output stage. The practical validation of these theoretical models will be performed in one of the laboratories of the research group, once it is duly conditioned for these purposes. Finally, the high scientific and technological level of this project will also help to prepare highly qualified personnel and researchers for the competitive space sector.