Leading product design consultancy, Wideblue, based in Glasgow, recently showcased its space technology expertise at the Space-Comm Expo in London.
Wideblue and sister company A2E are collaborating with the Glasgow-based Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) on an ambitious project to develop an optical communications system with very low size, weight and power requirements for use with high-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS).
HAPS are light-weight, unmanned aerial vehicles offering prolonged flight at altitudes into the stratosphere. They can be deployed quickly and provide persistent coverage over large areas. Applications include disaster relief, remote sensing/monitoring and providing telecommunication services to remote areas. Optical communications are key to enabling communications between the HAPS and other platforms/ground stations as the radio frequency spectrum is becoming too crowded and bandwidth requirements are becoming ever higher.
The project uses the latest breakthroughs in micro-LED light sources and single photon detectors pioneered by the University of Strathclyde’s Institute of Photonics over the past two decades.
Successful trials of the HAPs module have recently been completed on a tethered platforms to simulate real world environment.
Mark Sansom, Group Engineering Director at A2E/Wideblue said: “This has been a fantastic project to work on and has made full use of our skills in the areas of optics, photonics, mechanical design, electronics, FPGA and software design.”
Wideblue and A2E are part of the Pivot International group of companies (www.pivotint.com). The HAPs project, co-funded by Innovate UK, also has the following partners — TAO Tech UK Ltd and Kubos Semiconductor.
For further information about Wideblue please visit: www.wide-blue.com.
For further information about A2E please visit: a2etech.com.