ARTES-5.1 – ESA Telecom Technology Workplan ... - Emits - ESA

Annex 2Page 49Ref. Activity Title Procurement Policy Budget(KEUR)7-.012(07.153.15)Objective:Description:Planned TenderIssueIntegrated User Terminal for Interactive applications Open Competitive Tender Type: C1 600 Priority 2 12Estimated Duration(months)The objective of this activity is to investigate and demonstrate the technical and economical feasibility of integrating the present IDU and ODU into one integrated unit having a wireless orpower-line interface to the indoor PC for reducing cabling issues.To make the satellite-based interactive services more appealing, the user terminal needs to evolve towards a plug-and-play concept. Some of the drawbacks of current broadcast andinteractive satellite user terminals include cabling issues, unfriendly deployment and limited capability of sharing the same access point among a small community of users. In this activitysome techniques and technologies to cope with these issues are addressed with a reduced impact on the overall terminal cost. Key aspects to be addressed within the design activity shallinclude: 1) integration of the DVB-S2/RCS (i.e. IDU) with WiFi, WiMax or powerline modems within the ODU with limited footprint, 2) more sophisticated ODU control signals (to controlfor example the tuner frequency band, etc). The integration of the DVB-S2/RCS/WiFi or WiMax modems within the ODU eases the terminal installation and allows the sharing of the sameaccess point among a small community of users. There are technical challenges to such an approach. IDU components will need to sustain ODU environmental condition. The antenna willneed to support the additional weight of the terminal, the housing must contend with higher heat dissipation and the EMC environment will be more demanding due to the close integration ofthe electronics. However, the new architecture does not need to adhere to the IFL (inter facility link) interface anymore which may lead to new electrical topologies where cost savings can bemade.The activity will be split in two phases. The first phase will be a study to prove the technical and economical feasibility of the approach as well as to define a standard wireless/powerlineinterface and new functionalities including the control commands for managing these new functionalities. This study shall also identify possible new longer term technology developmentsrequired to cost effectively realise the integrated unit. If such technology is identified, the second phase will be initiated to breadboard this technology to evidence the viability of theapproach. It is emphasised that if no new technology developments are required after phase 1, phase 2 will not be initiated.NOTE: This activity has been designated as "Priority 2". Priority 2 activities will only be initiated on the explicit request of at least one delegation.