GB-Newcastle Upon Tyne: T21/0010 Onboard Data Buffer and Processor

A Contract Award Notice
by NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

Source
Contracts Finder
Type
Contract (Products)
Duration
5 month
Value
£200K
Sector
DEFENCE
Published
19 Nov 2021
Delivery
22 Nov 2021 to 30 Apr 2022
Deadline
15 Nov 2021 00:00

Concepts

Location

Geochart for 1 buyers and 1 suppliers

1 buyer

1 supplier

Description

Currently, the highest heritage ka-band radio frequency (RF) technology in small sats (herein we refer to them as CubeSats) can achieve 10-100 kbps with an onboard data storage capacity of ~8 GBytes (similar to SD cards in mobile phones). The aim of this experimental research project is to replace the existing low-speed RF and high-power transceiver in CubeSats with the high-speed, light weight and lower power free-space optical (FSO) wireless technology. The proposed intensity-modulation/direct-detection (IM/DD) FSO system will use an infrared laser source prototyped by Durham and Northumbria Universities in collaboration with UK-based industry partner SMS Electronics Limited. The high-speed electronics (encoding, modulation, etc.), the drive circuit and the optical head as well as the optical receiver together with all the supporting data, control, and optics modules will now be optimized and fabricated, increasing to TRL-7. We are seeking a sub-contractor who will help us to design and develop (to PCB layout and bring-up testing) a full working prototype of the electronics boards for handling high speed (1 Gbps) data transmission using our FSO system design, incorporating radiation hardened components, flight-ready controller, and buffering to interface with the satellite bus.

Award Detail

1 E2E Services (Hertford)
  • Value: £200,000

CPV Codes

  • 35631100 - Communication satellites
  • 32531000 - Satellite communications equipment
  • 31712310 - Populated printed circuit boards

Other Information

Please follow this link to view the notice https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?noticeId=644872496

Reference

Domains