This project aims at developing a new type of MEMS magnetometer based on the measurement of the frequency variation of a micro resonator on which is deposited a thin layer of magnetic ferromagnetic material. This new concept of vibrating micro-magnetometer allows a favorable compromise between performance and miniaturization/power consumption. It will meet the requirements of new dual and demanding applications of magnetometry, such as the improvement of low cost inertial measurement units for indoor navigation and the navigation of drones or missiles, or the monitoring of areas by sensor networks. An ASTRID project conducted between ONERA, SYSNAV and the IEF between 2015 and 2018 has made it possible to develop the various technological bricks constituting the magnetometer, as well as the associated calibration bench: - an original configuration of ferro / anti ferro magnetic thin film stacks has been designed, realized and validated experimentally, - a complete model of the resonator including the effect of thin magnetic layers has been developed (analytical model and finite element simulations) and exploited to design an original torsional vibrating resonator configuration. Several resonators were made and tested in the ONERA clean room. - An automated magnetometer calibration bench has been designed and partly realized. At the end of the project, first complete prototypes of magnetometers were realized and the first characterizations carried out. They consist of two miniature resonators on which a stack of thin magnetic layers have been deposited, these two resonators are integrated in a vacuum box and connected to an electronic oscillation circuit. The measurements carried out validated the feasibility of the sensor as well as the possibility of achieving the specified performances. The aim of the ASTRID Maturation project is, on the one hand, to optimize the various existing technological bricks: optimization of the geometry of the magnetic strips deposited on the resonator (without changing the already optimal deposition process), optimizing the configuration of the resonator, based on the results of characterization of the first resonator, and the modeling tools developed, optimize the packaging and layout of the electronic circuits in order to achieve a prototype closer to the final sensor,finalize the design of the automated measuring bench, make it and use it to calibrate and characterize the final prototypes. These optimization steps will precede a phase of realization and characterization of complete prototypes of sensor in representative environment. This will allow to mature the TRL 4 obtained at the end of the ASTRID project, up to TRL 6. The preparation of the pre-industrialization phase will also be carried out with the precise definition of the methods of realization and calibration of the magnetometers as well as the definition of the industrial assembly.

The goal of this project is to develop a new type of MEMS magnetometer based on the measurement of the variation of the eigen frequency of a micro resonator on wich has been sputtered a magnetic thin film. This micro magnetometer has a high performances potential and should meet the requirements of new applications such as indoor navigation or unattented ground sensors. A first study has been performed by ONERA and IEF: prototypes have shown the feasibility of this sensor, and a performances model has permitted to validate the benefits of this technology: low power, miniaturization, and resolution that meet the requirements of these new applications. This project includes the study of magnetix thin films, the damping of the resonator by the thin film, the design of an optimized resonator et a complete sensor with its associated electronics and its characterization.

Security of citizen is a major societal challenge due to its interaction with the freedom feeling which is a basic part of our democracy. The last few month news have played a part in increasing insecurity feeling through media coverage of violent events such as settling of scores related to by drug traffic, jewelleries hold-ups, valuables thefts and the example of the media hijacking of an armoured van in Toni Musulin case. A recent poll lead by IFOP, a French survey institute, from 18th to 20th September 2013, revealed that 84% of the French people feel an increase in crime. This result should be compared with these of the past years: 72% in 2012, 59% in 2010 and 43% in 2007. Physical aggressions such as hold-ups have led to a strained atmosphere and have given the impression that violence is commonplace and latent. Aggressors profile has changed regarding crime: crime formerly organized around some rules becomes nowadays less organized and rational and thus hard to understand. Otherwise, the boundary between delinquency / organized crime and terrorism is more and more reduced as for source of funding (drug traffic or hold-up) or terrorist profile. For example, Merah case or the last questioning of 9 persons in June 2013 suspected to have committed hold-up at La Poste with the aims of funding terrorism against French personalities. To struggle against those threats, the security forces use several information means namely GPS tracker embedded in suspects vehicles. These devices, used in a well-defined legal framework, represent invaluable tools to officers in charge of investigation and minimize risks taken by prime-participant. Police services are facing difficulties with jammers used to interfere with GPS reception and lately all the GSM (2G, 3G, and 4G) bands disruption for geo localization data transmission. Common use of those devices in organized crime and terrorism drives to seek out alternative solution. NB: Although forbidden in France (except in jails, theatre, concert hall, etc), jammers are available on the web for some 15 to 200€. Combining complementary competences in the field of navigation (Sysnav, whose CEO has just been nominated among the 10 most innovative and impactful French people under 35 by the MIT Technology Review), radio-communication (Éolane), and antennas (IETR), the ALTER-TRACK project addresses the issue explained previously by suggesting an autonomous and real-time solution of vehicle localization free of GPS (for localization) and GSM (for transmission of position data). This project, which is the continuation of ANR CSOSG projects (GPS localization only), is based on: ? localization acting improvement; ? supply of a long range communications solution different from GSM, which presents characteristics such as autonomy, inconspicuous and insensitive to interferers; The goals of this real-time tracking of vehicle rely on: - buried technologies independent to infrastructure: satellite for GPS, base station for GSM; - improvement regarding accuracy of localization information before transmission through several techniques (embedded Map-Matching processing); - long range radio communications for data localization exchanges between the tracking vehicle and the follower one. Both vehicles are distant of some km each other in urban area; - small and inconspicuous antenna; - low susceptibility to radio jammer / interferer; - high autonomy. From an operational point of view, several types of communications (data link) can be considered in urban area in the suggested frequency band (VHF < 300 MHz): ? vehicle being tracked – tracking vehicle link: mobile-mobile link with diversity ? vehicle being tracked – fix node link (temporary or standing infrastructure)