In the Spotlight
REVOLVE: a H2020 program for new antenna concepts dedicated to telecommunications
In the Spotlight
REVOLVE: a H2020 program for new antenna concepts dedicated to telecommunications
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REVOLVE & the REVOLVE(RS)
No, it’s not a really groovy rock band from the Swinging Sixties in London, but a very serious project dubbed REVOLVE
REVOLVE is being developed through the European research program Horizon 2020. It is coordinated by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and organized around a manufacturer, namely Thales Alenia Space. The project aims to design and develop new antenna concepts that could be used in future communications systems. To carry out this task, the five project partners have assigned this mission to selected doctoral students, known as… The REVOLVE(RS). More info: click here
Meet the REVOLVE(RS)!
There are seven REVOLVE(RS) in all, from Germany, France, Greece, Italy and Switzerland. The common denominator is that they all spent two months at Thales Alenia Space’s plant in Toulouse, and will now be working on state-of-the-art subjects. Overseen by a dozen experts, the REVOLVE(RS) have already gotten up to speed on their research subject. They had to embrace the industrial culture, meet specialists and researchers to help them refine work on their thesis, which would take two or three years, and also team up with other partners. More info: click here
Their subjects address the new challenges generated by far-reaching changes in the communications satellite market. Satellite operators’ needs have undergone major changes in recent years, especially because of the advent of new players and the emergence of mega-constellation projects. Given this fiercely competitive market and fast-evolving requirements, manufacturers have to produce “more, faster and cheaper”. Our researchers are doing everything in their power to develop new approaches and manufacturing processes in order to maintain Europe’s excellence in the global satcom market. That’s why our seven doctoral students have to come up with disruptive solutions and techniques in key areas such as VHTS (very high throughput satellites), mini-GEOs, mega-constellations and convergence with 5G. After completing their last year of research, they will transfer the results to Thales Alenia Space, to bring products to market as quickly as possible.
Project partners
REVOLVE is organized under the direction of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, in conjunction with Thales Alenia Space, industrial authority on the project, and IETR, the electronics and telecommunications research institute in Rennes. These three partners are long-standing collaborators: IETR and Thales Alenia Space even operate a joint laboratory called MERLIN. The project includes two other high-tech partners: LSS, a Munich-based company specialized in deployable structures; and Prodintec, a Spanish specialist in additive manufacturing.
By training tomorrow’s engineers and researchers, we’re building Europe’s new industrial landscape. The five partners in this project will do their utmost to ensure that these research subjects find real-world applications. More info: click here
Will our seven REVOLVE(RS) kick off the next industrial revolution?
This project received funding from the Innovative Training Network initiative, part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, under subsidy agreement No. 722840.
Copyrights:
REVOLVE logo: © REVOLVE
The REVOLVERS: ©Thales Alenia Space/J-P Grèzes
Spacebus NEO: ©Thales Alenia Space/Master Image Programmes