Optical Camera Communication For SATellites

OCC4SAT aims to develop an enabling communications technology for the space industry, providing a solution to some current needs of the space sector, such as the intra-satellite communication links and the reduction of the dry mass of data transfer cables, connectors, and shielding.

The project proposes the integration of Optical Camera Communications (OCC) into the intra-satellite environment providing the flexibility of this technology for enabling new unprecedented flexible design opportunities thanks to the inherent spatial multiplexing capabilities of OCC, its cost efficiency, and the possibility of grasping reflections on the inner walls (and objects) of the satellite to establish NLOS links.OCC4SAT addresses Area 2 of the call.

The project will provide two main technology demonstrators (which will be discussed in more detail in the Implementation section): (i) an intra-satellite OCC network simulator that could serve as a tool for speeding up satellite design while providing performance estimates and (ii) a physical demonstrator based on a satellite mock-up able to showcase the flexibility, robustness, and performance provided by the OCC technology.The project's main objectives are a link range of around 1 m suitable for the mini satellites, a data rate above 3 kbps enough for the satellite operation, or a mass below 300 g using lightweight COTS cameras and discrete LED devices, to name a few.

OCC4SAT will address several relevant challenges related to both the space and communications fields, such as the limited power supply, weight, space, and clearances in smallsats, or the high spatial multiplexation order of the OCC nodes, the increase of the data rate and the developed of links based on reflections on the payload surfaces, among other.