Orbital modular robotic is a key factor to support sustainability in Space. It is then possible to combine modular components to either create a satellite or, in the event of malfunction, to replace a module. To connect such modules, standard interconnects with multifunctional features are required. The standards provide the laws to connect the space along different functional lines including among those mechanical, electrical, thermal, data and fluidic. For the On-Orbit Servicing market, these standards play a key role to enable space connectors to mate two spacecrafts in a universal and serial way. Several European solutions are already available with a reasonable level of maturity to mechanically connect two space elements and provide data and power transfer. However, there is not a set of common recommendations agreed on by representative European users of space connectors. Considering the huge impact of these multifunctional interconnects at system level, it seems critical to first foster cooperation among them to enable a higher level of standardization to assemble future elements coming from different sources. The main objective of this project is to pave the way for a more flexible, universal and serial interface (USB-type) leveraging the existing standard interconnects for On-Orbit Servicing and assembly applications. After the definition of a standardization level, the design of a universal and serial standard interface will be proposed and demonstrated orienting its features towards compactness, docking symmetry, large docking misalignment tolerances, large loads transfer, data/power transfer redundancy and especially interoperability with other interfaces. Currently interoperability is the only remaining requirement which is not met by any existing space connector/interface. The project will then perform a dedicated experimental benchmark to confirm the achievement of this specific requirement as well as its prospective industrial exploitation.

Discrete GaN power electronic devices have penetrated the consumer market and first products have amply demonstrated a disruptive improvement of the performance and reduction of the form factor. With demonstrated robustness for heavy ion radiation and neutron radiation, p-GaN enhancement mode HEMTs allow disruptive innovative designs for space applications. However, to unlock the full potential of the technology for point of load convertors, three important limitations need to be solved, as addressed in this project, i.e. 1) the reduction of the inductive parasitics through monolithic integration of drivers and power devices (GaN-IC) 2) optimization of the inductive passive components together with the active devices 3) a strong interaction between point of load convertor design and GaN-IC design. Electrical performance and radiation robustness will be evaluated and assessed for space applications in the upcoming frame of satellites massive digitalization. The project with duration of 36 months, comprises of two learning cycles in definition and refinement of the application requirements, design and manufacturing of the GaN-ICs and passive devices, and development of the point of load convertor boards, first with focus on the basic building blocks and initial prototypes, followed by further optimization towards the target requirements. The consortium has been joined by Thales Alenia Space (France and Belgium) and Würth Elektronik as space and terrestrial point of load convertor manufacturers. IMEC contributes with its state-of-art GaN-IC platform technology and Würth Elektronik with the design and prototype manufacturing of the passives. MinDCet designs the optimized GaN-ICs and contributes with a state-of-art controller. This project contributes to EU non-dependence of GaN technology as discrete GaN transistors are, so far, mostly produced by Asian and/or North American manufacturers and pushes the state-of-the-art with higher level of integration (GaN-IC).

The European Direct-Drive Architecture (EDDA) project aims at optimizing the power chain efficiency of a spacecraft using electric propulsion, which is at the heart of technological roadmaps for future spacecraft. The objective is to develop, build and test a demonstrator of a high voltage and high power direct-drive concept. This innovative architecture supplies directly electric thrusters by a 300V-400V Solar Array without power conversion vs 28-100V in the current state of the art. The advantages are to remove power converters, to save mass, dissipation and cost, and to improve significantly the overall efficiency and reduce the thermal dissipation. In addition, at satellite level, it corresponds to a reduction of thrust duration, saving mission time. The ability of the concept to be applied to various thrusters technologies is key to maximize the impact of the architecture. Therefore this study is based on a transversal aspect of Electric Propulsion to be demonstrated on two different Electric Thruster technologies: Hall Effect Thruster (HET) from Sitael (Italy) and High Efficiency Multistage Plasma Thruster (HEMPT) from Thales-D (Germany). EDDA demonstration is based on a thruster plasma analysis (UC3M, Spain). Cathod Reference Point electronics, HET, vacuum chamber for complete testing are provided by Sitael. The bus voltage control loop and associated hardware are designed and manufactured by TAS-B. Coordination at satellite level is performed by TAS-F. Efficient Innovation provides effective management and associated tools. Tests will follow real operational conditions: no Sun, variation of illumination, thruster start-up and switch off, quick variation of consumption, and will demonstrate the robustness of this architecture easily adaptable to spacecraft (telecommunication satellites for Electric Orbit Raising reduction, In Orbit Servicing and Space-tugs, interplanetary carriers).

PHOENICE aims at developing a C SUV-class plug-in hybrid (P1/P4) vehicle demonstrator whose fuel consumption and pollutant emissions will be jointly minimized for real world driving conditions. This development will require the optimisation of a highly efficient gasoline engine, relying on a dual dilution combustion approach with excess air and EGR, synergizing an innovative in-cylinder charge motion with high pressure injection, novel ignition technologies, and an electrified turbocharger particularly relevant for hybrid architectures. The potential of alternative fuels produced by P2X processes will also be considered. To achieve the targeted near-zero emissions in transient conditions specific to PHEV in real driving conditions, the demonstrator vehicle will be equipped with a complete and dedicated after-treatment system including an electrically heated catalyst, a SCR and a GPF for abating NOx, particle number down to 10 nm, and non-regulated gaseous emissions. The vehicle overall efficiency will be increased with an exhaust waste heat recovery system for generating an additional electric power contribution for cabin heating or cooling, or for reducing the switch-on time of the internal combustion engine in cold conditions, thereby limiting the engine-out pollutant emissions such as particles. Virtual methods will be employed to reduce the calibration time of all the vehicle sub-systems. The vehicle control will use all the flexibility of the hybrid architecture and sub-systems to lower in real time the driving emissions and fuel consumption. Technologies developed in PHOENICE will achieve a TRL 7 paying a specific attention to cost, industrialization, and to the use opportunity for various vehicle classes so as to maximize the economic and environmental impacts. This project will support the European automobile industry in the medium term and speed up the transition towards a more environmentally friendly mobility in terms of air quality and GHG emissions.

Digitizing biomarkers analysis by quantifying them at the single-molecule level is the new frontier for advancing the science of precision health. The SiMBiT project will develop a bio-electronic smart system leveraging on an existing lab-based proof-of-concept that can perform single-molecule detection of both proteins and DNA bio-markers. Specifically, the SiMBiT activities will develop the lab-based device into a cost-effective portable multiplexing array prototype that integrates, with a modular approach, novel materials and standard components/interfaces. The SiMBiT platform exhibits enhanced sensing capabilities: specificity towards both genomic and protein markers along with single-molecule detection limits and time-to-results within two hours. This makes the SiMBiT prototype the world best performing bio-electronic sensing system ever. SiMBiT will reach these ambitious goals with a multidisciplinary research effort involving device-physicists, analytical-chemists, bio-chemists, clinicians, electronic- and system-engineers. The platform is also single-use and cost-effective and can work in low-resource settings. The SiMBiT field-effect sensing system will be fabricated by means of future mass-manufacturable, large-area compatible, scalable techniques such as printing and other direct-writing processes. 3D printing of a module is also foreseen. The SiMBiT prototype will demonstrate, for first time, a matrix of up to 96 bio-electronic sensors and a Si IC chip for the processing of all data coming from the matrix, multiplexing single-molecule detection. As the Si IC pins are limited the chip area is reduced and its cost minimized, enabling a single-use assay plate. SiMBiT will apply the multiplexing single molecule technology to the early detection of human pancreatic neoplasms in a well-defined clinical context, performing simultaneous analysis of genomic and protein markers with a minimal sample volume, reduced costs and reduced time-to-results.