HUB:BLE -2 Boosting Local Enterprise Developing Your Idea

1. Boosting Local Enterprise
16th October 2013

2. Developing Your Idea
Piero Messidoro
– Thales Alenia Space
Prof Peter Ford
– De Montfort University
Nick Williams
– Conformance
Robert Lowson
– National Contact Point, Space
Short Company Pitches

3. Thales Alenia Space
R&D activities in Torino
Leicester, 16 October 2013
Piero Messidoro, G.Cassisa
83230913-DOC-TAS-EN-001
HUB:BLE-2 Boosting Local Enterprise

4. Thales Alenia Space Presence in the Space Market
Telecommunications
Observation
Climate Change
Fixed / Mobile
Navigation
Localization
Meteorology
Broadband
Oceanography
Dual / Military
Surveillance
AMC 21, Amos 4/5, Arabsat , Arsat1, Athena-Fidus, Ciel 2, EuropaSat,
Express MD1/MD2, Globalstar ,
Hispasat , Iridium Next, Kazsat 2,
Koreasat 6, Loutch 5/6, Nilesat 201,
O3B, OverHorizon 1, Palapa-D1,
RascomStar-Qaf 1R, Satcom BW
2a/2b, Sicral 1B, Sicral 2, Syracuse
1/2/3, Thor 6,Turksat 3A, W2A,
W3B, W3C, W3D, W7,W6A, Yahsat
1A/1B, Yamal 401/402
Meteosat/MSG/MTG Jason, Calipso,
COSMO-SkyMed, Sentinel 1&3,
Envisat, ERS, GOCE, Helios, IASI,
Pleiades, SPOT, CSO, Gokturk…
Planetology
Fundamental physics
Aeronautical
Communications
Astronomy
Human spaceflights
Intelligence
Secured
Exploration/Science
Data collect
Space transportation
systems
EGNOS, Galileo, MTSat…
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space
Herschel,Planck, Exomars, Alma,
Corot, Cassini-Huygens, Node
2&3, Columbus, Cupola, MPLM,
Automated Transfer Vehicle
(ATV), …

5. Domain : Exploration and Science
SPACE INFRASTRUCTURES
& TRANSPORTATION -
Exploration and
Science
OPTICAL OBSERVATION
AND SCIENCE
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

6. Space Exploration
Opportunity for the
Humankind to pass
the boundaries of the
Hearth, colonizing
new worlds where it
will be possible to live
and operate
Courtesy of NASA
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

7. International Scenario (GER 2.0)
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

8. TAS-I Space
Exploration
Road map
ExoMars
Long Duration
Habitat
Commercial
Transportation
Services
Inflatable
Habitats
Lunar Pressurized
Rovers
MSR
Technology
Demonstrators
MPCV/ ESM
Marco Polo
Lunar Landers
Cis-lunar Complex
NEO
Moon
Post-ISS
ISS Test Bed
for Exploration
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space
ISS
Mars

9. Research and Development
Robotic and human exploration of the solar system require
several enabling technologies:
Entry Descent and Landing (EDL)
Landing legs
Robotics and autonomy for surface exploration
Inflatable structures
Regenerative life support
Aerothermodynamics and TPS
Crew collaborative robotics
Fuel cells
Health management systems
Rendezvous and Docking / Capture
Thales Alenia Space Torino is engaged in all these developments
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

10. Entry Descent and Landing 1/3
Identification of safe landing site on planet
surface and guided soft and precise landing
are key technologies for space exploration.
They need vision based image processing
algorithms as input to dedicated GNC
algorithms.
7.
Touchdow
n
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

11. Entry Descent and Landing 2/3
Image Processing algorithms have been developed
and tested using a facility set up which is a scaled
representation of the Mars terrain. Images are
acquired by a drone.
GNC architecture and algorithms have
been developed, and modeling of Mars
terrain and winds has been carried out.
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

12. Entry Descent and Landing 3/3
Current space qualified computers do not provide the
needed computational power. New computer
architectures based on processor/co-processor
configuration are under study.
Avionic test bench has been set up consisting of flight
segment , ground segment, real time simulation
environment and development environment.
Flight representative processors, coprocessors,
FPGA and data busses are used to investigate
performances of demanding algorithms (Image
Processing, Hazard Detection and Avoidance, Model
Predictive controllers)
Mass Memories are needed to store data for
successive ground transmission. Usage of FLASH
memories in Space environment means reduction of
mass and power consumption. Activity is in progress
on that.
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

13. Landing legs
Landing legs are required to perform a soft landing of a spacecraft onto a planetary surface
and assure a final reference position with respect to the ground to deliver a rover or facilitate
crew egress in a manned mission.
In the specific of the soft landing, the objective is the development of an active system for
impact absorption based on adjustability after landing. This is considered highly reliable w.r.t.
the passive (e.g. crushable honeycomb cartridges) due to additional possibility to cope with
terrain roughness and slopes.
Lander Configuration
Spring
Ball screw
Nut
Landing
Leg
Shock Absorber
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

14. Robotics and Autonomy for surface exploration
1/3
Robotics Surface exploration requires a great deal
of autonomy for the environment description,
viable path identification and execution
minimization of risk of hazard.
Navigation, based on stereo vision, has been
developed together with localization and hazard
mapping functions needed to generate the path for
the rover motion.
Visual odometry has been studied to improve the
localization accuracy.
Stereo Cameras
=> Map generation
Stereo Cameras
=> Visual Odometry
Omni Camera
=>Map generation
A flexible test bench for development and test of
innovative GNC systems tailored for mobile robots
has been set up and improvements of this paltform
shall be implemented including new sensors
(OmniCamera, Time of flight Camera) to enhance
the navigation performance
Time Of Flight Camera
=>Map generation
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

15. Robotics and Autonomy for surface exploration
2/3
Capability to handle samples is requested by the typical exploration mission on planet surface. A
robotic arm is about to be integrated on the rover platform to develop sample approach and
grasping.
Cooperative rovers formation is
requested for middle/long term
missions to build infrastructures
and wide range surface exploration.
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

16. Robotics and Autonomy for surface exploration
3/3
New concepts for robotic systems
are under study, whose objective
is the reduction of mission costs
using re-configurability and
reusability.
RECONFIGURABILITY
REUSABILITY
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

17. Inflatable Structures
The “inflatable technology” is world-wide
recognized as an enabling capability that
will play a fundamental role in the future of
LEO infrastructures but also in exploration
missions, with particular regards to the
development
of
Moon/Mars
surface
outposts.
IMOD
In fact, the need for larger habitable
volumes in long-duration missions and
larger deployable structures will have to
cope with the limited volume and launch
capability of both existing and future
launchers. This means that a high
compaction at launch offers the possibility
for on-orbit deployment of huge volumes
and surface extension unreachable with
current rigid metallic structures.
The objective is to further develop
knowledge and technologies for inflatable
space systems dedicated to both manned &
un-manned structures in terms of materials
& processes, overall design of multi-layered
structures & testing.
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space
ICM
FLECS
INFLATABLE
AIRLOCK

18. Regenerative Life Support
Advanced Life Support technologies and subsystems can maximize efficiency (% recovery, equivalent
mass, reduced consumables…) and application flexibility (Planetary or μg) of Environmental Control
and Life Support (ECLS) systems for Space Infrastructures and Human Exploration. In particular, for
planetary exploration mission the utilization of resources available on a planet (ISRU - In Situ Resource
Utilization) can also be considered
The objective is to develop technologies related to the production, processing and regeneration of vital
resources as food, water, oxygen, also by the processing of solid and liquid waste materials.
RecycLAB is aimed to research on Regenerative ECLS technologies and subsystems based on the
experience and knowledge already accumulated by TAS-I during the design and the integration of the
ISS module but the study for exploitation of Martian and Lunar regolith (working with simulants) is also
proceeding.
P.I.ECO - WATER REGENERATION
EDEN Episode 2
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

19. Aerothermodynamics and TPS
During atmospheric entry or re-entry phase, any
space vehicle undergoes a relevant overheating
due to the friction with the planet atmosphere
which can damage or completely destroy the
spacecraft. On the other side, the external shape
and surface characteristics determine the entry
trajectory or flight behavior of the vehicle giving
the possibility to determine and possibly control
the accuracy of the Entry Descent and Landing
phase.
Ablative light TPS materials are a cost effective
solution for thermal control of the external layer
of the structure of vehicles for planetary missions
through phase change and mass loss.
On the other hand re-usable TPS materials are a
valid solution for reusable manned reentry
vehicles.
The prediction of the multi-physics behavior of a
vehicle body with a thermal shield (integration of
aerothermodynamics and TPS thermo-structural
behavior)
requires
the
development
of
sophisticated simulation tools which can be
combined with algorithms for the multidisciplinary optimization of the architecture of
such complex systems.
IXV
Epoxy foams
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

20. Crew Collaborative Robotics
The presence of humans on orbital infrastructures for maintenance and servicing operations (Intraand Extra Vehicular Activities) or in future Exploration missions (including establishment of manned
planetary outposts on Moon and Mars) increases the possibility of solving unexpected situations but
could also require the support by robots or other automatic/semi-automatic devices which shall
properly collaborate in the same environment with the human.
The objective in the ambit of command and control systems is then to develop an integrated Human
Machine Interface (HMI) permitting both remote or in-situ control of a robot (e.g. Ground station for
the control of a unmanned rover equipped with a robotic arm on 1G and time delay conditions or
augmented reality interface for robot control on EVA, µG, real time conditions) and the definition of
proper robot Artificial Intelligence architecture for permitting robot’s autonomous activities and
collaborative task (Crew Collaborative Robotics with sliding autonomy).
EGP
EGP
Ubiquitous Arm System
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

21. Fuel Cells
Future planetary exploration will require
advanced energy storage technologies in order
to provide higher power and higher storage
densities than secondary chemical batteries.
The proposed solution is an energy storage
system based on Regenerative Fuel Cell
technology.
Such technology (already used in the Gemini
and Apollo programs in the 60’s and also for
the Space Shuttle) has recently came back to
be interesting thanks to the development in the
frame of the “Green Economy”

The present research aims at developing a
Regenerative fuel cell system composed by a
fuel cell and an electrolizer for the application
on space exploration missions (e.g. planetary
base, rovers).
In the future an integrated Reversible Stack
able to act both as fuel cell and electrolyser will
be developed based on the Alkaline
technology.
RFCS Breadboard
Assembly
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

22. Health Management Systems
Structural Health Management methodologies permit the
monitoring also during operations of the conditions of a
structure and the decision about which best mission or
maintenance actions are required to limit the risk of a
failure. In
particular, with respect
to space
transportation, health management is a pivotal step for
supporting affordability and sustainability of future
reusable re-entry vehicles.
The Health Management System will then permit to
acquire system data about the integrity status of a space
vehicle and to process them into information to support
operational decisions, spanning both flight and ground
phases.
In case of either unexpected ageing, or anomaly, or
jeopardizing damage detection, the HMS will ideally raise
early warnings to the vehicle operational interfaces and
support the definition of remedial strategies before offnominal conditions would lead to major/critical failures.
This will result in improved vehicle safety and reliability,
minimized maintenance actions, improved readiness and
availability, vehicle life extension.
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

23. RV&D / Capture (1/2)
Rendez-Vous & Docking is a mandatory capability to support
exploration missions characterized by complex systems
architectures and operations. It is needed to:
collect samples from the planet surface and bring it to
Earth
assembly different spacecrafts both on-orbit and on
planets
Surface
New Navigation algorithms are requested during the RV
phases for fuel saving based on Model Predictive Controllers,
as well as the improvement of autonomous RV&D system
implementing Model Predictive Controller techniques in
Martian, Lunar and LEO scenarios.
Image processing is used in this scenario to identify:
Non cooperative target orbit in the long range phase
as non stellar object
Non cooperative target position and attitude in the
short range phase
This document is not to be reproduced, modified, adapted, published, translated in any material form in whole or in part nor disclosed
to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space

24. RV&D / Capture (2/2)
The Rendez-Vous & Docking capability would
also permit the development of Space Tugs
for servicing, maintenance operations.
The ongoing development of a docking
mechanism is proceeding in parallel with the
realization of an engineering technological
area for testing the mechanism on the two
target and chaser vehicles, which also
includes proper GNC algorithms, a supervisor
module, and a control station.
Chaser/Target Vehicles
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to any third party without the prior written permission of Thales Alenia Space -  2012, Thales Alenia Space
Docking Mechanisms

25. 10 THINGS YOU
NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT CE MARKING
Nick Williams, Conformance Ltd
4865

26. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
1. It’s all about the market

CE marking directives are there to create a single market



Safety requirements are how they do this but they are not the reason
the directives exist
Focus is increasingly on environmental requirements
All EFTA states have to implement the same rules
2

27. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
EFTA and others
3

28. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
1. It’s all about the market

CE marking directives are there to create a single market

Safety requirements are how they do this but they are not the reason
the directives exist

Focus is increasingly on environmental requirements

All EFTA states have to implement the same rules

EU states plus Switzerland, Norway, Turkey etc

Design requirements are very similar in other places:
Australia, New Zealand, China, Canada
4

29. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
2. It’s the law

EU/EFTA states have to implement the rules

They are not allowed to add to them

Manufacturers/suppliers have to obey them, even for home
markets

Part of the criminal code so a manufacturer cannot shift the
responsibility to anyone else

If there’s a CE marking directive that applies to your products
then you have to comply with it
5

30. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
3. The law is the law, but
standards are not!

Directives contain only very general requirements

“Essential protection requirements”

Not a lot of use to a product designer

Standards provide the detail and are written by people from
within the industry, regulators, etc.

Standards can be changed without changing the law

Standards can be ignored!
6

31. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
4. There are lots of standards

BSI publishes about 50,000 standards


Electrical equipment

Machinery


Medical devices
etc, etc
Some are design specs, some are test methods


Think of them as a ‘Toolbox’
It’s almost always possible to find some standards whatever
the product
7

32. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
5. It’s changing all the time

Directives get reviewed about every 10 years

New ones (particularly environmental) – 3 or 4 / year

Implementation timescales are usually two years, but can be as
little as six months

Standards are reviewed every 2 – 5 years

Products have to comply with current requirements when they
are sold
8

33. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
6. It’s always the manufacturer’s
responsibility

‘Manufacturer’ is the person (company) whose name is on the
product

If they are outside Europe, then the importer is legally
responsible

In practice, manufacturer has to be involved for the job to be
done properly

Activities can be subcontracted, duties cannot
9

34. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
7. Many products can be self
certified

EMC Directive, Low Voltage Directive, most machinery, many
medical devices, etc. require no independent testing

Higher classes of medical device, PPE, gas appliances, some
machinery requires Notified Body involvement


Notified Body may do tests, QA assessment, or both
It’s up to the manufacturer to decide what testing is required

and how much they want to spend…
10

35. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
8. It’s not well policed

Trading Standards, HSE, VCA, MHRA, Ofcom, NMO etc. all
have responsibilities under different Regulations

Most UK enforcement is complaint driven

Some countries (Germany, Sweden, etc.) do more test
purchases

Some goods are stopped at the port of entry

Toys, consumer goods, more likely to get stopped
11

36. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
9. You need documents

Technical File

Records of how you show the product complies with the requirements

Drawings, checklists, labels, circuit diagrams, instructions, test reports,
component data explanations and descriptions

Need to keep the documents for 10 years after the last product
is sold

Only an enforcement officer has a right to see them
12

37. Conformance - CE marking and product safety consultancy
10. There is a lot of help out there

Text of the directives

Guidance documents (on the web)

Standards (purchase only)

Regulators

Test houses

Consultancies

Each one has an angle!
13

38. THE END

39. Driving Innovation
Robert Lowson
UK Space Research National Contact Point
European Collaborative funding; Horizon 2020
Space
16 October 2013
1

40. Driving Innovation
Horizon 2020 – EU’s new framework
for research and innovation
7-year programme, worth +/- £50bn
•
•
•
•
•
Support for economic recovery; challenge and impact. SME focus
Integration – opportunities in other H2020 sectors
Simplified funding
– competitive grants (65% of programme)
– Research and innovation (R&I) : 100% + 25%
– Innovation: 75% + 25% (of 75%) (non-profit 100%+25%)
– Coordination and Support Actions (CSA):100% + 25%
– Assessed for scientific quality, management, impact
– Other instruments (procurement, new instruments, especially SME)
Collaboration (at least 3 partners from different m/s)
International partners when essential/specifically identified in WP/
associated country/not incompatible with programme objectives
2

41. Driving Innovation
Space in H2020
Context - a developing EU space policy
Ambition - “Foster a cost-effective competitive and innovative
space industry (including SMEs) and research community to
develop and exploit space infrastructure to meet future Union
policy and societal needs”
Funding - €1.5bn
2014/15 content
– Flagships
• EGNSS (not in previous rounds)
• EO
– SST/protection
– Competitiveness
– Space science
– International , SME + other
3

42. Driving Innovation
A growing opportunity for the UK
• FP6 - €235m,
• FP7 - €1.4bn (85% GMES) ,
• Horizon 2020 - €1.5bn,(without operational Copernicus)
• UK outstanding success in FP7/6th Call
• UK well placed to sieze opportunities
– Dynamic, diversified space sector
– Bucking the recession
– Institutional changes -TSB, UKSA, Harwell hub, Catapult
– Strong political support
– IGS
4

43. Driving Innovation
2014/15 funding; €350m - 40% for
GNSS, +/- 65% competed
5

44. Driving Innovation
Timing
• Work programme covers 2014 and 2015 –
projects typically multi-year
• Delivered through two Calls
– 2014 Call deadline April 2014 – contracts December
– 2015 Call deadline November 2014
• Target for work programme publication
December 11
6

45. Driving Innovation
Topics (1)
• GNSS
– New apps, awareness raising, preparation of future
services
• Earth Observation (alongside operational
funding and societal challenges)
– Innovative apps (special provision for SME); climate
change; continuity of air and marine services (PDB);
wider use of Sentinel data; technology development
7

46. Driving Innovation
Topics (2)
• Asset protection/SST
• Competitiveness
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Technologies for non-dependence;
independent access to space;
in-orbit validation;
“bottom up” technologies;
support for exploration;
exploitation of space mission data;
handling Mars samples
Planning Strategic Research Clusters
8

47. Driving Innovation
New instruments; SME and Fast Track to
Innovation
SME instrument (€17.25m for 2014/5)
• Continuous competition, single cos. can benefit
• Aimed particularly at GNSS/Copernicus applications
– 3 phases ; feasibility (€50k), innovation projects (€1-3m),
marketing
– Mentoring support via EENs
Fast Track to Innovation Pilot
• Continuous Call – details to be developed
9

48. Driving Innovation
Closing thoughts.....
• How to promote business involvement (future role of EEN?)
• Time is tight – it’s not too early to be developing partnerships
• Look at other H2020 work programmes
• Keep in touch
– More detailed presentation at http://bit.ly/16zjsrV
– National and EU events – particularly Brussels, December 2013
– UK space research national contact point (ncp)
• robert.lowson@tsb.gov.uk 00 44 797 384 0324
– https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/fp7uk-space
– H2020 Participant Portal
10

49. Driving Innovation
More information
• More detailed presentation at http://bit.ly/16zjsrV
• National and EU - events – particularly
Brussels, December 2013
• UK space research national contact point (ncp)
– robert.lowson@tsb.gov.uk 00 44 797 384 0324
• https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/fp7uk-space
• H2020 Participant Portal
11