DLR - Institute of Communications and Navigation - Abgeschlossene Projekte 2011 - 2017

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Abgeschlossen 2011 - 2017

3InSat

Over the past decade GPS satellite technologies have been widely tested in Europe to be used for the train localization. Combined with satellite communications and terrestrial communication techniques, an economical train control system solution can be realized. Within the scope of this project, a new satellite-based system as an evolution of the ERTMS-ETCS platform for automatic train control and management will be developed and validated. With such a train control system, the overall system cost can be significantly reduced.

ABSOLUTE

Recent events have shown that in the aftermath of an emergency, disaster or any related tremendous unexpected events, a reliable communication infrastructure plays an important role in providing critical services including emergency recovery operations, critical infrastructure restoration, post-disaster surveillance etc. In most of the cases, immediately after a large scale disaster, the normal terrestrial network infrastructure is seriously compromised and cannot guarantee reliable and large scale coverage for rescue teams and citizens. Current mission critical communication systems including PPDR (Public Protection for Disaster Relief) systems are heavily limited in terms of network capacity and coverage. They are not designed for or suitable to address large scale emergency communication deployments immediately after the disaster scenarios where these networks can provide dependable and resilient network connectivity at higher data rates over large coverage areas. Moreover, PPDR systems are limited by interoperability barriers and the technological gap with commercial technologies and evolving standards.

ADVANSYS

Design of ADvanced ANtenna and Multi-Sensor HYbrid Receiver for Machine Control in HarSh Environments. Nowadays machine control applications such as precision agriculture, construction (land and offshore), and open mining, increasingly rely on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). In all these applications, GNSS is the preferred technology thanks to its global availability and easiness to deploy and operate.

Aeronautical Satellite Communications Channel Characteristics

The wireless signal propagation characteristics from a satellite based transmitter to an airborne receiver are of special interest for air traffic management as well as for passenger communications. Especially applications incorporating safety-of-life features require not only an average reliability of the transmission link but rather a high availability and have stringent requirements on the continuity-of-service. In order to test and validate new developed receiver algorithms, software based implementations are used which allow a faster time to market. Therefore, channel models designed to simulate propagation characteristics of the satellite-to-aircraft channel need to address all aspects of propagation impairments.

AFFECTS - Advanced forecast for ensuring communications through space

Schwere Weltraumwettereinflüsse können die Leistungsfähigkeit unserer technischen Infrastruktur signifikant beeinträchtigen. Funktionseinschränkungen oder katastrophale Ausfälle von Telekommunikations- und Navigationssystemen können zu erheblichen wirtschaftlichen Verlusten, Sicherheitsrisiken sowie zu einer deutlichen Einschränkung der Lebensqualität führen. Im Rahmen des FP7 Projektes AFFECTS wurde ein Vorhersagesystem entwickelt, welches ermöglicht durch Vorhersagen von Störungen in der Ionosphäre Nutzer im Bereich der Navigation und Kommunikation rechtzeitig über potentielle Störungen ihrer Systeme zu informieren. Das Projekt AFFECTS stärkte mit der Entwicklung von neuen Vorhersage-techniken und -modellen die Leistungsfähigkeit des Ionosphärenwetterdienstes Space Weather Application Center (SWACI) am DLR Neustrelitz. Die in SWACI begonnenen und zu einer gewissen Reife geführten Arbeiten wurden dank der Unterstützung des Technologie Marketings des DLR zu dem Ionosphere Monitoring und Prediction Center (IMPC) weiterentwickelt, welches einen weltweit einmaligen Ionosphärenwetterdienst für eine breite Nutzerklientel bereitstellt.

Alert 4 All (A4A)

Alert4All (A4A) has been an European funded project under the programme call FP7-SEC-2010-1, started in March 2011 and run until December 2013. The project was coordinated by DLR and implemented by an European consortium composed of 11 partners. The main objective of Alert4All was to improve the effectiveness of one element of the People-Centred Early Warning Systems paradigm, namely alert and communication towards the population in crises management. This improvement was measurable in terms of cost-benefit ratio, number of affected citizens timely reached by alerts, trust of citizens on alerts and intended vs. actual impact of alert strategies.

	ArtemEx: Artemis Experiment for Optical Feeder Links ArtemEx is an ESA project (Artes 5.2) involving Cassidian Optronics and DLR to verify an advanced transmission concept for ground-to-space optical links.
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BaSE

The BaSE (Bavarian security receiver) project is a response of Bavarian companies to the interest arising toward the Public Regulated Service (PRS) of coming Galileo. The technological objective of BaSE project is to develop a flexible and scalable high-performance Galileo PRS prototype receiver. The receiver will feature robust acquisition and tracking of the PRS signals, an effective suppression of jamming and interference by using an adaptive antenna array with digital beamforming, a robust PVT solution (Position-Velocity-Time) with multi-frequency RAIM (Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring) as well as a spoofing detection with the help of estimated directions of arrival of the PRS signals.

BATS

BATS addressed the integrated delivery of BroadBand (BB) future Internet services for European coverage according to the EC Digital Agenda objective to reliably deliver >30Mbps to 100% of European households by 2020. In order to accommodate the ‘unserved’ and ‘underserved’ areas of Europe, an ultra-high speed satellite system has been researched that provided order of magnitude cost/bit reductions and solutions to existing market barriers of bandwidth and latency limitations. The project was built on Terabit/s satellite studies conducted by European Space Agency and extended them into an overall network and service delivery concept. A novel architecture has been proposed which combines satellite and terrestrial service delivery via an Intelligent User Gateway (IUG), dynamically routing each traffic flow according to its service needs through the most appropriate delivery mechanism to optimize the Quality of Experience (QoE). The integration complied with emerging home network environment standards and provided resilience and reliability of service provision to the users by bonding diverse access networks. To cope with such scenario, BATS also provided a unified network management framework.

DENISE

The DENISE project aims at designing and demonstrating, both via laboratory tests and field trials using W2A satellite, a suitable S-band interactive system capable of efficiently using the available bandwidth (15 MHz in both uplink and downlink for each of the two licensed European S-band operators) to provide:
• Interactive mobile broadcast services enhancing the DVB-SH offer,
• Messaging services for handhelds and vehicular terminals, capable of serving millions of terminals thanks to a novel optimised air-interface in the RTN link,
• Real-time emergency services such as voice and file transfer, mainly addressing institutional users on-the-move such as fire brigades, civil protections, etc.

Dependable Navigation

Reliable and ubiquitous positioning and navigation is of central importance for many applications in economy, mass market, and sovereign tasks. With the ongoing development of EGNOS and Galileo, Europe makes a significant contribution to the global provision of navigation infrastructures and will create first prerequisites for a wide spectrum of new positioning, navigation and time services.

	DLR@Uni Seit Januar 2012 erhält das Institut KN über Munich Aerospace eine Förderung im Rahmen der Helmholtz-Allianz DLR@Uni. Ziel dieser Allianz ist der Aufbau und Ausbau von Forschungsnetzwerken zwischen den DLR-Instituten und den regional ansässigen Universitäten sowie die Intensivierung der Doktorandenausbildung in strukturierten Programmen.
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	DOCOMAS As optical communication in space is rapidly progressing and more and more in flight validation of the technology in LEO and GEO (SILEX, LCT) and even from the Moon (LADEE) is accumulated the current study is focusing on the deep space communication architecture for an optical downlink from a deep space probe directly to Earth. The emphasis hereby is particularly on the ground segment.
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DODfast (Demonstration of Optical Data link fast)

The institute was responsible for the communications link design, experiment design and optimization of the ground station. The DLR spin-off Vialight Communications GmbH built the airborne terminal. New opto-mechanical tracking systems were developed and applied on flight and ground segment for link acquisition and stabilization. The flight tests were carried out at the end of November 2013 near the Airbus Defence & Space location in Manching, Germany. The campaign successfully demonstrated the maturity and readiness of laser communication for aircraft downlinks at a data rate of 1.25 Gbit/s. Performance could be measured at aircraft speeds up to Mach 0.7 and video data from an onboard camera was transmitted. Tracking accuracies of up to 20 rad rms for the airborne terminal and the ground station were achieved at instantaneous tracking errors below 60 rad and 40 rad, respectively. The tracking link worked up to a horizontal distance of 79 km and data transmission was possible up to 50 km. The experiment shows the maturity of aeronautical laser communications in a very challenging environment. Future aircraft may be equipped with that technology for the sake of passenger connectivity and payload data transmission, for example. With this optical data link, high resolution images recorded by a camera during surveillance flights are transmitted to the Transportable Optical Ground Station (TOGS) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

DVB-RCS Next Generation Support and Verification Testbed

The aim of the project is to validate the recently standardised 2nd generation of DVB-RCS within ETSI, with particular attention on the implementation of lower and higher layers (LL, HL). To this end, the major output of the project will be the implementation of a testbed reproducing main functionalities of DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS2, thus serving as baseline for development of future hub and satellite terminals.

DVB-S2 Satellite Experiment Transmission experiments to validate and optimize DVB-S2 satellite links
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	EGNOS V3 Phase Ax+B Focusing on safety-of-live applications, the European geostationary navigation overlay system (EGNOS) offers augmentation service for the satellite navigation system GPS and in a next step for the future system Galileo.
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	EGNOS V3 EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) V3 definition phase (phase A activity) encompasses challenging and ambitious objectives paving the way for Europe to play a leading role in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) for the post 2020 period.
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	EMMA 2 The aim of the EMMA project is maturing and validating the A-SMGCS concept as an integrated air-ground system seamlessly embedded in the overall ATM system. EMMA 2 focuses on advanced onboard guidance support to pilots and planning support to controllers.
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EMS

The subproject “Systems for traffic routing and safety” is part of the joint project “R&D and Real Time Services for maritime Safety and Security” (FEMS/EMS) initiated by the DLR to bunch the institutional forces and to achieve an interdisciplinary completion of research and development activities in both topics. Safety in the maritime system stands for an incident and accident free operation of within taken place transport and production processes to ensure the protection of life, goods, and the marine habitat.

Systems for maritime traffic routing and safety”

Background: The subproject “Systems for maritime traffic routing and safety” is part of the joint project “R&D and Real Time Services for maritime Safety and Security” (FEMS/EMS) initiated by the DLR to bunch the institutional forces and to achieve an interdisciplinary completion of research and development activities in both topics (Safety and Security). Safety in the maritime system stands for an incident and accident free operation of within taken place transport and production processes to ensure the protection of life, goods, and the marine habitat. The implementation of security measures into the maritime system is driven by the necessity, to prevent transport and production facilities from destruction (vandalism, terrorism) and to avoid their misuse (piracy, bootlegging).

EMSec - Echtzeitdienste für die Maritime Sicherheit - Security

Im Projekt EMSec sollen Informationen und Lagebilder aus verschiedenen Quellen wie Satelliten und Flugdiensten für die behördlichen Endnutzer verständlich und je nach Anforderung flexibel dargestellt und schneller verfügbar gemacht werden. Dafür wurde ein Lagetisch entwickelt, der Informationen aus verschiedenen Quellen bündelt und gemeinsam in Echtzeit darstellt. Der Schwerpunkt der Arbeiten des Instituts lag auf dem Schutz maritimer Navigationssysteme vor Störungen und Missbrauch, insbesondere der Entwicklung von Methoden zur Erhöhung der Störrobustheit des PNT-Systems und zur Identifikation, Lokalisierung und Klassifizierung von Stör- und Täuscherquellen.

	ESA NGW Next Generation Waveform for Improved Spectral Efficiency The goal of this activity is to design enhanced waveforms to be used by the forward and return links of next generation broadband and narrowband satellite networks, together with the associated estimates in terms of system performance improvements and high level complexity.
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	e-Triage In this project DLR-KN developed a robust self-synchronising database system which is able to handle intermittent network connectivity and varying link qualities. Key objective was to replicate and synchronise all data among all devices. I.e. all involved hand-held devices and (semi-)stationary network nodes shall have the same data.
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ETSI BSM Emulator

The project provides a basis for the study and the design of an Emulator for an ETSI BSM-Compliant SI-SAP Interface. The work will be based on an existing simulator of Satellite Dependent layers (DVB-RCS/S2), available at DLR; the partners will implement the required modifications in it, and will develop new modules, in order to enable the real-time emulation of a DVB-RCS/S2 network with an SI-SAP-compliant access interface. It will be possible to use the emulator with real computers and real software applications (web browsers, VoIP clients, etc…).

e-HIMALAYA

The e-HIMALAYA (extended-HIgh performance MAss market GNSS receiver muLti stAndard readY for mArket) project aims at prototyping innovative GNSS-based core technologies and concepts, with the objective to build key Galileo differentiators in a multi-GNSS hybridized receiver. Several markets are addressed with the main weight put on Mass-Market and transport, which represents the main Galileo receiver market.

	Externe SI-SAP (“Erstellungen der Spezifikation Broadband Satellite Multimedia SI-SAP als externe Schnittstelle”) The project provides a basis for the study and the design of the SI-SAP interface, conceived as an external interface between Satellite Independent (SI) and Satellite Dependent (SD) layers implemented in different nodes.
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	FAS - Fahrerassistenzsystem Ziel des Projekts Fahrerassistenzsystem (FAS) ist, individuelle und gruppenspezifische Unterstützungsmöglichkeiten zur Verkehrsteilnahme u. a. auf der Basis von Fahrzeug-zu-Fahrzeug Kommunikation zu erarbeiten und prototypisch zu realisieren.
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FEC4Space

The project is dealing with the design and with an approach to a standardisation of new forward error correction codes for optical near-earth and deep-space data links as well as for RF deep-space data links. The new forward error correction mechanisms, which are based on LDPC codes, promise both an enhanced error correction capability and low complexity. This improved performance enables higher data rates or alternatively a saving of transmitter power with comparably low effort. Especially for space communication saving of transmitter power is a very important aspect, because this influences positively the design of the whole spacecraft or satellite (e.g. smaller solar panels, less volume and mass, smaller RF amplifiers, smaller radiators for cooling).

	Flexiguide The project flexiGuide picks up the main concept ideas from the earlier FAGI project and takes their development a step farther: Trajectory-based arrival management, user preferred trajectories, mixed traffic with different equipage, late merging point on final approaches, individual optimized flight profiles, and time based arrival management.
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F-SIM

The purpose of this activity is primarily to provide full specifications to terminal manufacturers for the development of an “IST” (Interactive Satellite Terminal) compatible with the “EIBS” (Eutelsat Interactive Broadcast System). In particular this activity focuses on the link layer ( i.e. all above the PHY layer and up to the provision of IP connectivity) for the return link based on suitable adaptation of ETSI TS 102 721 (S-MIM).

GalileoADAP
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Galileo SEIOT

The acronym Galileo SEIOT is standing for Galileo IOV Signal characterisation and Extended In-Orbit Tests. End of 2011 the first Galileo IOV satellites shall be launched. A further launch is planed to begin of 2012. The Galileo IOV satellites will be the first satellites in the Galileo program which synchronously transmit the operational Galileo signals in all three frequency bands. Aim of the project Galileo-SEIOT is the analysis of Galileo IOV satellites in terms of detailed signal characterization and Extended In-Orbit-Tests.

	GATE-GTF Between 2002 and 2010 a German industry consortium under the leadership of IFEN GmbH (Poing near Munich) a ground based flexible German Galileo Test Environment (GATE) was developed in the south of Germany.
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GeReLEO

Low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites require both data links for telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) and for download of mission data (e.g., Earth observation). A single ground station can maintain a contact to a passing LEO satellite for relatively short time only (typically ~10 min), and together with high-resolution sensor systems onboard the satellites producing high amounts of data this leads to a serious bottleneck. In fact, depending on the actual orbit parameters (altitude and inclination) the long-term average visibility as seen from one ground station is only 1% to 6% of the overall orbit time.

GeReLEO-MODULOS

Die bodengebundene direkte Übertragung von Steuerbefehlen zu und Telemetrie-/Sensordaten von niedrigfliegenden (LEO) Satelliten oder Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) schränkt die Kontaktzeiten bzw. den Aktionsradius dieser Systeme erheblich ein. Für einen geostationären Relaissatelliten hingegen ist knapp die halbe Erde sichtbar. Mit einer einzigen, eventuell durch Redundanz gesicherten, Bodenstation sind über das Datenrelais erheblich längere Kontaktzeiten zu einer ganzen Flotte von LEOs oder UASs möglich. Im Rahmen des GeReLEO-MODULOS Projekts wurden vom DLR-Institut für Kommunikation und Navigation die hierfür benötigten Protokollschichten zur Realisierung der kanaladaptiven Ka-Band-Übertragungs- und Zugriffsverfahren (Data Link Layer, Media Access Control, Ressourcenmanagement etc.) entwickelt. Beiträge der Projektpartner waren der Bau des Engineering Model (EM) eines LEO-Satellitenmodems sowie der Bodenstationsmodems.

	GITEWS The German conception of the establishment of a Tsunami Early Warning System for the Indian Ocean.
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	GLOVE Galileo Integrated Optimization with VANET Enhancements (GLOVE) is a technological STREP project which investigates the mutual benefits coming from the cross-domain integration between the Galileo/EGNOS Global Navigation Satellite System and Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks.
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	GRAMMAR GRAMMAR coordinated by DLR represents a highly innovative approach to developing a prototype GNSS receiver, targeted at mass market applications, with the widest potential exploitation.
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High Throughput Decoders (Direct to Home System Demonstrator for High Throughput Multimedia Applications)

In the framework of the ESA project “Direct to Home System Demonstrator for High Throughput Multimedia Applications” - ITT6613, DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is investigating the design of new forward error correction schemes to extend the capabilities of DVB-S2 towards lower signal-to-noise ratios and high-throughput decoder implementations. Investigations are carried out in the directions of long forward error correction codes with lower decoding complexity, and of PL Header codes able to work at extremely-low signal-to-noise ratios. In the Figure, a new code with block length 4 times smaller than the one used by DVB-S2 is compared with the DVB-S2 LDPC code, showing how a performance close to that on DVB-S2 can be achieved with much shorter codes. The design shall facilitate the development of high-throughput satellite broadcasting solutions with high service availabilities.

	HIGHTS HIGHTS was a Europe-based research project supported by European Union under the funding scheme "Horizon 2020". Our theme was "Smart, Green and Integrated Transport" and our focus area was cooperative ITS (C-ITS). The goal of the HIGHTS project was to achieve high precision positioning system with the accuracy of 25 cm.
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ICARUS

Im ICARUS Projekt werden globale Migrationsbewegungen von Kleintieren, beispielsweise von Vögeln, durch ein Satellitensystem erfasst. Dabei wird eine Gruppe von Tieren temporär mit kleinen Sende-/Empfangseinheiten ausgestattet. Die aufgezeichneten Daten über Tierbewegungen sind nicht nur für Biologen interessant, sondern vor allem auch für Mediziner, welche die Ausbreitung von Krankheitserreger voraussagen und rechtzeitig Gegenmaßnahmen einleiten können. Im Rahmen des Projekts ICARUS werden am Institut für Kommunikation und Navigation spezielle Kanalcodes für die Sende/Empfangseinheiten entworfen.

ICONAV

Main goal of the project ICONAV was development and implementation of an industrial LDACS hardware demonstrator for lab testing. DLR together with the project partners Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG, iAd GmbH, BPS GmbH, and the University of Passau optimized and supplemented the existing LDACS specification with respect to performance and industry requirements. In addition, a first data security concept and the extension of the communications system LDACS towards navigation have been developed. With that, a successful transfer of the LDACS research results to industry has been achieved.

INSAG - Innovative Nutzung von Satellitennavigation und Geländeinformationen

INSAG (Innovative Nutzung von Satellitennavigation und Geländeinformationen) ist ein durch das Bayrische Raumfahrtförderprogramm unterstütztes Verbundprojekt unter der Leitung der RUAG AG. Im Teilprojekt "Satellitengestützte autarke Landung" trägt das DLR mit Verfahren zur zuverlässigen Bestimmung der Flugzeugposition auf Basis von Galileo -und GPS-Messungen und Daten aus dem Radarhöhenmesser bei.

KASYMOSA

Objectives of the project were the investigation, development, and validation of novel technologies and algorithms for mobile satellite communications in Ka-band. Target scenario was the emergency communication with a limited number of terminals. Tasks of the DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation were the development and reference implementation of a suitable Layer 2 protocol including novel algorithms for cross layer resource management. Core idea was a distributed resource management without a central hub station. Furthermore, the institute participated in the design and implementation of a suitable Satcom Network Evaluator.

KOMPASSION - Compact Adaptive Terminal Antenna for Interference-free Satellite Navigation

A receiver system for navigation signals was built, which demonstrates the concepts, technologies and evaluation methods for the realization of compact array antennas as well as the applicability of corresponding algorithms for digital beamforming and suppression of interferers. The work of the KN Institute included the development of a compact adaptive antenna array with small footprint and the further development and implementation of algorithms for direction-of-arrival estimation of wanted and interfering signals as well as for efficient suppression of interferers and multipath propagation.

KOSERNA - Compact Satellite Receiver Systems for Robust Navigation Applications

Based on the preliminary work in the research project KOMPASSION (Compact adaptive terminal antenna for interference-free satellite navigation), the accuracy of the receiver developed was significantly improved by using a second frequency band (E5a) and both right- and left-circular polarization. Further miniaturization was achieved through the use of production-ready manufacturing processes. In order to extend the interference resistance to deceptive signals, innovative methods of fake-signal suppression were designed and implemented. In addition, the company Antennentechnik Bad Blankenburg GmbH has built up an industrial demonstrator for vehicle applications whose performance has been proven by application-specific tests.

LAESSI

Within the project LAESSI, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, BMWi), efficient navigation assistance functionalities for the inland waterway transport will be developed. The application of these novel functionalities aims at the enhancement of safety and efficiency of inland waterway transport by reducing the risk of collisions. The need for this is indicated by a number of recent accidents involving inland vessels.

LDACS-NAV

To meet the challenges of future Air-Traffic Management (ATM), aeronautical communication and navigation technologies are currently modernized. In communications, the air-ground communications standard LDACS (L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System) is under development. The main goal of the DLR internal project LDACS-NAV (LDACS Navigation) is to advance the LDACS technology candidate LDACS1 to include navigation functionality. The feasibility of this approach is proved by in-flight measurements.

	LIMES The involvement of the Institute for Communication and Navigation in LIMES is focused in the cluster Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction. This cluster includes the improvement and extension of the existing services that cover the whole crisis cycle.
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LOCL: Lunar Optical Communications Link

In September 2013, NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment (LADEE) spacecraft was launched with the main scope of collecting information about the lunar atmosphere. The spacecraft also hosts the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD), which has successfully demonstrated bidirectional communications based on 1550 nm laser technology and PPM Modulation.

	MAIA The Mobile Alert InformAtion system using satellites (MAIA) project is a Feasibility Study of a Satellite-based Alarm System aiming at ensuring alert and information dissemination in case of emergencies/disaster.
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	Maritime traffic engineering The maritime traffic system is an essential basis for the economic development, competitiveness, and prosperity for Germany as well as Europe. The world seaborne trade continued to grow in 2011 with 4% and achieved a total transport volume of goods in the order of 8.7 billion tons.
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	MINERVAA
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	MONALISA 2.0 The MONALISA2.0 project has delivered an exciting vision and a well-defined concept over how shipping can be turned in to a more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly transport mode through Sea Traffic Management (STM). Finally, the project developed a well-defined route description how to get there - The STM Master Plan
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	MONITOR MONitoring of the Ionosphere by innovative Techniques, coordinated Observations and Resources. The main goal of MONITOR is to design, develop, deploy and operate a system for collection, processing and archiving of ionospheric observation data.
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	MuSIK Multi-Scale Ionosphere Model from Combination of Modern Satellite observation Techniques. The MuSIK project aims at developing methods for imaging the three-dimensional electron distribution of the ionosphere/plasmasphere systems.
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NEXT - Network Coding Satellite Experiment

The NEXT project aimed to develop and to demonstrate network coding (NC) techniques for satellite interactive communication systems. Three major scenarios were taken into account: network coding for a bidirectional communication between two satellite terminals to save bandwidth in the downlink/forward link, multiuser detection for two transmitting terminals to save bandwidth in the uplink, and reliable multicast to increase the data throughput in unreliable satellite channels. For these three scenarios algorithms and protocols have been developed and validated by lab-demonstrations. The development was carried in cooperation with the Lehrstuhl für Nachrichtentechnik (LNT) of TUM, and with IQ wireless GmbH, Berlin. The experiments take benefit from state-of-the-art channel coding techniques, and pave the way to future demonstrations with the advanced payload to the H2Sat satellite.

NGOBP - Next Generation Regenerative On-Board Processor in Broadband Satellite Systems for Security Applications

The purpose of the activity was to study, develop and validate the OPB functionalities for the next generation of satellite OBP hosted payloads for high speed security applications and institutional purposes. The scope of the activity also includes a comparison between the OBP solution and the conventional transparent system in terms of cost, technical and operational point-of-view to allow for benchmarking. On-board switching was combined with new network coding concepts to save power and bandwidth in the satellite downlink. The activity was accomplished by building a demonstrator implementing a complete end-to- end system.

	NICOLE The NICOLE is an ESA ARTES-1 project whose name stands for Next generation InteraCtive brOadcast mobiLe nEtworks. It deals with the design of the ground and space segment of a satellite network for mobile terminals that should be built in the mid-term, aboutfive years from now.
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	ORELIA This study will investigate optical technologies and techniques that could, in a reliable manner, enable high-data-rate optical links through the atmosphere. Scenarios of interest are bidirectional feeder links between ground and a GEO satellite.
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PHAROS

The PHAROS project was funded under the EU programme FP7-SEC, aimed at designing and implementing an innovative multi-hazard service platform which integrates space-based observation, satellite communications and navigation assets to provide sustainable pre-operational services for a wide variety of users in multi-application domains, such as early detection of risks and emergencies, environmental monitoring, risk and crisis management and population alerting.

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PiLoNav

Precise and integer Localisation and Navigation in Rail and Inlandwater Traffic. Mobility of people and transport of goods are important for a smoothly functioned society. These also significantly affect the quality of living and the competiveness of the economic system. Railway and inland water transportation become more important particularly with regard to current ecological and economical matters.

	PRE-EARTHQUAKES Processing Russian and European EARTH observations for earthQUAKE precursors Studies (PRE-EARTHQUAKES) A large scientific documentation is to-date available about the appearance of anomalous space-time patterns of geophysical parameters measured from days to week before earthquakes occurrence.
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	RCAS The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is developing a Railway Collision Avoidance System (RCAS), a 'safety overlay' system which can be deployed on top of any existing safety infrastructure in train networks.
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RCS_NetMAC

A satellite broadband interactive system specification should essentially be composed of two main parts, one referring to the Lower Layers (LL), and a second one focusing on the Higher Layers Satellite (HLS). One such system is defined by DVB-RCS2. This comprises a series of documents produced by the DVB Project’s TM-RCS group in response to requirements delivered by the DVB Commercial Module.

	RCS-NG Testbed The main objective of this activity is to design and develop a software based validation platform implementing and fully validating key functions of the DVB-RCS Next-Generation Standard.
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	Roll2Rail One major achievement of the ROLL2RAIL project was the evaluation of existing technologies for future wireless train backbone networks. Analysis of the state of the art of wireless communications for railways was performed and gaps identified.
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ROIMUS

In the forward-link of broadband satellite systems with multiple beams, Co-Channel Interference (CCI) can severely affect simultaneous transmissions at equal frequency to users located in different beams. Eliminating the CCI at the receiver, e.g., by an iterative cancellation approach, strongly increases the receiver complexity and cost. Therefore, much effort has been made to cancel the CCI at the cost-insensitive transmitter side (at the gateway), e.g. by Dirty Paper Coding or Tomlinson-Harashima Precoding.
For the return-link, Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) could be used at the gateway. In this respect novel resource management algorithms have to be designed to better exploit the new characteristics and the improved performance of the physical layer.

	SafeTRIP The SafeTRIP project aims to develop an open platform and demonstrate its benefits through a number of complete end-to-end ready-to-deploy services – improving road safety, mobility and environment protection for passenger vehicles. The proposed services are primarily targeted to address the needs of EU citizens travelling by road - i.e. drivers and passengers of cars and coaches.
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	SaMariS The joint research project Satellite Based Maritime Safety (SaMariS) consists of three subprojects, which aim the development of technologies and services for the maritime sector. The overarching goal is the improvement of safety and the increase of efficiency of the maritime transport.
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SAMURAI

SAMURAI (Sensor Array Processing for Multipath and Radio Interference Identification and Suppression). For safety-critical applications based on global satellite navigation systems (GNSS) not only a highly accurate, but also a highly reliable time-delay estimation of the received signal needs to be ensured. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop and explore powerful innovative methods for highly accurate synchronization of navigation receivers, even under difficult reception conditions.

SANDRA - Seamless Aeronautical Networking through integration of Data links Radios and Antennas

The overall air transportation sector is currently under significant stress. With the demand in aircraft operations expected at least to double by the 2025 timeframe, there are well-founded concerns that current air transportation systems will not be able to accommodate this growth. Existing systems are unable to process and provide flight information in real time, and current processes and procedures do not provide the flexibility needed to meet the growing demand.

SANTANA

In diesem Projekt wird der technologische Grundstein für eine voll ausgebaute aktive Terminal-Antenne zur Satellitenkommunikation im Ka-Band gelegt. Dafür sind Terminal-Antennen mit hoher Direktivität, einer schnelle Ausrichtung und Nachführung der Antennenkeule auf den Satelliten erforderlich, die eventuell sogar die Fähigkeit haben, mit mehreren Satelliten gleichzeitig eine Verbindung aufzunehmen.

SatCom4Mar - Satellite Communications in the Future Statutory and Commercial Maritime Communications Market

It is expected that commercial and statutory maritime communications will experience major changes during the next two decades. Within the project SatCom4Mar the current and planned communication system are evaluated. Furthermore, the statutory maritime communications requirements are identified. In a next step demands are derived, followed by the opportunity for satellite systems, services and technologies.

SatNEx

SatNEx is a Network of Experts for satellite communications, coordinated by DLR KN. The first two phases of SatNEx have been funded by the EU from 2004 to 2009. Now ESA is interested in continuing the funding (SatNEx III). DLR KN will further coordinate the network and act as contractor to ESA. A core team consisting of DLR, University Surrey, and University Bologna will coordinate the research activities. Specific research tasks will be contracted to suitable network partners in the frame of annual “Call-off Orders”. The network comprises 17 partners in total.

	KIODO The project KIODO (KIrari’s Optical Downlink to Oberpfaffenhofen) refers to a series of laser links between a DLR ground station and the Japanese satellite OICETS. KIODO represents the first optical downlink from a LEO satellite to a European station. In addition to data transmission, measurements of atmospheric effects on the laser beam have been carried out.
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SESAR_SPEC

The Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research Programme (SESAR) is a European initiative aimed at modernising and harmonising the European Air Traffic Management systems ensuring sustainable, safe and efficient development of air transport through a performance driven approach. The objective of the Special Agreement was to support the Members of SESAR Joint Undertaking with their contribution under the SESAR Programme related to the definition and validation of a multi-constellation multi-frequency GBAS system for precise airplane landing. The work of AT-One consortium (DLR and NLR) under the Special Agreement was focused on academic research in the fields of the utilisation of new GNSS navigation signals in GPS L1/L5 and Galileo E1/E5 bands in GBAS system, analysis of the threats to the nominal system operation occurring because of the signal distortions in ionosphere as well as due to multipath propagation and radio frequency interference. Also the aspects of the optimal multi-frequency multi-constellation signal processing in a navigation receiver of GBAS as well as monitoring of the system performance and integrity have been studied.

siNafa

Ziel des Projekts siNafa ist es, die Navigation auf Hochseeschiffen sicherer zu machen. Hierfür sollen neue Signale und Frequenzen von allen Navigationssatellitensystemen genutzt werden um die Verfügbarkeit und Genauigkeit des GNSS-Empfangs zu erhöhen. Die Verwendung innovativer Gruppenantennen-Technologie ermöglicht es, die GNSS-Navigation vor Störern und Täuschern zu schützen und das Vorhandensein dieser Signale sicher zu erkennen. Mit Hilfe eines neuen GNSS-Systems mit drei Antennen sollen die Bewegungen und Beschleunigen des Schiffes exakt gemessen werden. Alle Komponenten werden in eine moderne IT-Infrastruktur eingebunden und zusammen mit bordautonomen Navigationsgeräten gekoppelt.

SOCIETIES - Self Orchestrating CommunIty ambiEnT IntelligEnce Spaces

Die Vision von SOCIETIES ist es, ausgehend von isolierten persönlichen Smart Spaces (z. B. intelligente Häuser, oder alle vernetzten persönlichen Computer) integriere "Community Smart Spaces" (CSSs) zu entwickeln. Diese sind eine Weiterentwicklung von Pervasive-Computing Systemen und erlauben es, die Dynamik von Gruppen von Menschen abzubilden. CSSs stellen somit eine Brücke von Pervasive-Computing Systemen zum Social-Computing her und ermöglichen so neue Arten von gemeinsamem Arbeiten und Kommunizieren.

SWACI

The Space Weather Application Center Ionosphere (SWACI) is a pilot research project focused on establishing a space weather center whose services will be related primarily on ionospheric issues. SWACI is a joint project of two DLR institutes - the Institute of Communications and Navigation and the Earth Observation Center (EOC). It is essentially supported by the German State Government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

TeaM – Technology Development for autonomous Moon missions

Project TeaM is concerned with the development of technologies for autonomous Moon missions with a rover. The project combines competences of different DLR institutes aiming at the development of a planetary exploration system. In particular, the Institute for Communications and Navigation is concerned with the development of suitable RF and optical transmission schemes.

	TerraSAR-X LCT-ATM
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	TOPGAL Total Performance System for GBAS based Automatic Landings. TOPGAL is an internal DLR project which investigates GBAS based navigation in conjunction with flight management and autopilot systems. A socalled Ground Based Augmentation System enables aircraft to use satellite navigation for guidance on a precision approach.
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TRANSMIT

Training Research and Applications Network to Support the Mitigation of Ionospheric Threats. The establishment of an Ionospheric Perturbation Detection and Monitoring (IPDM, http://ipdm.nottingham.ac.uk/) network was proposed and recognised by major European experts as the way forward to deliver the state of the art to protect the range of essential systems vulnerable to ionospheric threats.

THRUST

The project THRUST shows the feasibility of optical communications as key enabling technology in future satellite communication systems for global connectivity. In frame of project THRUST, DLR has proven the technology in worst-case link conditions. The researchers have set the world-record for highest data throughput in free-space optical communications link twice. Moreover, we demonstrated high-fidelity optical coherent communications system performance and shown how the pre-distortion adaptive optics could be employed. DLR will further focus to demonstrate end-to-end performance targeting prototype of future system.

UFO – Unmanned Freight Operations

Unmanned aircraft are gaining more and more importance in the aviation sector. Lately, the point of interest in this specific field is increasingly including civil applications, too. One such civil scenario could be the transportation of cargo with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or more precisely, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). Today however, there are no defined processes for certification of these kinds of aircraft, yet. The same is valid for the operation of UAS or RPAS in airspace as well as on airports, where legal and technical obstacles remain. The goal of the project Unmanned Freight Operations is hence the development and validation of a concept of operations for unmanned cargo planes.

	UTMBeam The goal of this project is to achieve ultra high throughput multi-spot beam satellite networks by identifying and assessing advanced ground segment technologies. The impact of these technologies on system performance is analyzed with a system simulator developed by DLR in the framework of the present project.
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VABENE

Ereignisse, seien es Großveranstaltungen, Großschadenslagen oder Katastrophensituationen, gefährden die Funktionsfähigkeit des Verkehrssystems. Gleichzeitig kommt dem Verkehrssystem während und nach diesen Ereignissen eine wesentliche Rolle zu: Einsatzkräfte nutzen die Verkehrsinfrastruktur, um Transport und Einsatzlogistik zu gewährleisten. Ebenso gilt es, die Mobilität der Bevölkerung so weit wie möglich aufrecht zu erhalten.

	VaMEx VaMEx is a highly innovative approach to developing infrastructure-less navigation technology for autonomous, heterogeneous robotic swarm exploration of the Valles Marineris on Mars the largest canyon system in the solar system and possibly a refuge for extraterrestrial life.
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VaMEx-CoSMiC

The project Valles Marineris Explorer (VaMEx) – Cooperative Swarm Navigation, Mission and Control (CoSMiC) investigates innovative approaches for infrastructure-less navigation and exploration for highly automated heterogeneous robotic swarms exploring Valles Marineris on Mars. Resulting technologies are key enablers to explore the largest valley in our solar system which is possibly a refuge for extraterrestrial life.

	VISTA The main objective of the action is to assist and coordinate the research in the field of integrated and versatile antennas for wireless applications, by bringing together experts from the distinct areas of radio, RF and microwave engineering, as well as related topics such as signal processing or (micro)fabrication techniques.
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	WHERE The main objective of WHERE is to combine wireless communications and navigation for the benefit of future mobile radio systems. The impact will be manifold, such as real time localization knowledge in B3G/4G systems which increase the cellular capacity.
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Selected Projects

Completed Projects 2018-2019

Completed Projects 2011-2017

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