OPTIMISE Consortium 

SKYLIFE ENGINEERING is a technology-based company established in 2011 on the basis of a long and prolific career in aerospace research, acquired by some members of Dept. of Electronics Eng. of the University of Seville.

Airbus fostered the creation of SKYLIFE ENGINEERING to become a provider of cutting-edge technology solutions for the aerospace industry. The firm is fully committed to Research and Development (R&D) initiatives, including Projects at the lowest Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). The company is currently partnering 7 Clean Sky 2 (H2020) Projects, being the coordinator in 4 of them.

The company is based on an interdisciplinary working group which consists of engineers and PhDs from several expertise areas, making possible to join and complement each other to succeed in the execution of complex projects from different topics.

The company’s staff have gained a wide experience in power electronic converters and avionics for the aeronautic industry, and both analog/digital electronics design. In fact, most of the engineers working at Skylife have more than ten years of experience working in projects for Airbus (Shunt for A400M, rudder for C-295, power converter for A350, electronics interface for data buses in A350).

SKYLIFE ENGINEERING implements and maintains a Quality Management System that fulfils the requirements of the following standards ISO 9001:2008 for the field of activities corresponding to the design and development of products and prototypes or air navigation systems and electronics applied to aeronautics and space. SKYLIFE ENGINEERING also complies with the requirements of the standard UNE-EN 9100:2010 (based on ISO 9001:2008), and the assessment was performed in accordance with the requirements of the Aerospace Supplier Quality System Certification based on EN 9104. Furthermore, SKYLIFE ENGINEERING is certified under AS 9100 for Design and development of products and prototypes of air navigation systems and electronics applied to aeronautics and space sectors. The qualification is active in the OASIS database.

 The main R&D projects developed by SKYLIFE are related to these topics:

MBDA is the first fully integrated pan-European Company with a single integrated management and operating structure to manage national customer interfaces and maintain strong national footprints in France, UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.

It is a leading global player in its field, capable of delivering the best and most advanced solutions to its customers, developing large joint European programs, offering its customers an unequalled range of products and services and uniting Europe’s major collaborative programs. MBDA has over 70 customers in the world with an annual turnover of 3.5 billion Euros. MBDA is shared by principal EU shareholders: BAE-Systems, Airbus Group and Leonardo.

MBDA is a prime contractor for: Missile-based weapon systems, including their integration onto airborne, naval and land platforms; Airborne and land Countermeasures systems; Directed Energy weapons; Complex simulations and training systems; RF seekers and sensors; C2 solutions; Through life capability solutions.

MBDA has demonstrated its ability to bring together the best skills across the whole of Europe and has succeeded in becoming the prime contractor for a series of strategic multi-national programmes. For all these multinational programs, MBDA’s unique structure has allowed it to:


For more than 20 years, MBDA has developed a strong capability in the field of complex system design and manufacture and associated netted command and control systems. For that reason, MBDA has developed tools and methods to specify, down select, customize and integrate a wide range of assets, sub-systems, technologies, and software’s.


Due to budget and time pressure within the modern programs, MBDA has developed innovative and efficient methods for “design to cost” in high competitive environments, as well as large expertise in the field of “plug and play” architectures to allow system growth potential and enhancement as technology progresses.

Moreover, through its multinational footprint and international partnerships MBDA has developed privileged relations with SMEs, Universities and RTO’s being able to address all low cost (civil or military) emerging and beyond-state-of-the-art technologies.  

MBDA Italia S.p.A.  And MBDA Fr are a prime contractor for missile-based weapon systems, including their integration onto airborne, naval and land platforms.

MBDA Italia S.p.A. brings in its consolidated know-how in complex systems specification, design and integration. Experience has been gathered from missile systems design and production in different fields: real time software design; RF seekers and sensors design; Command & Control systems; embedded computing; supply chain management; EMC-sensible appliances design; harsh environment electronics employment; aerodynamic structure design & production; precision mechanical manufacturing; complex systems simulation; control design; integration; pyrotechnical & explosives (i.e. warheads, boosters & sustainers) integration; logistics and training systems; through-life capability solutions. 

Over the years, numerous self-financed research activities have been carried out which have aimed to increase the knowledge and maturity of innovative Data Fusion algorithms to enhance the multi-sensor navigation performances. Every year internal research funds are allocated to investigate innovative PNT technologies and to study / develop technologies in the field of Multisenor Navigation, Navigation in GNSS denied environment. 

In particular, MBDA Italia has a proven experience in developing integrated solutions for its own products. MBDA IT Missiles integrate multi-sensors including IMU, GPS, Radio altimeters and RF seekers. Moreover, over the years, a number of self-funded research activities have been carried out whose purpose was to increase both knowledge and maturity of novel Data Fusion algorithms to enhance the multi-sensors navigation performances. Every year internal research funds are allocated to investigate innovative PNT technologies and to study / develop technologies in the field of Multisensor Navigation, Navigation in GNSS denied environment.

SENER Aerospace is part of SENER Group. SENER Group is a privately-owned Company. This independence is one of its major assets. SENER Group devotes its entire activity to provide consulting and architect engineering services in the broadest sense, from feasibility studies to the delivery of turnkey projects. The distinctive values of SENER are: Innovation, Quality and Independence. SENER Group was founded in 1956 and has expanded its activity to most of the industrial fields. 

In 2017 SENER group turnover was circa 750 M€ with circa 2,250 staff. SENER Group operates in three main areas: Aerospace, Engineering & Construction and Energy & Environment. SENER Group is present in Europe, America and Asia.

SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas (IS) is the company of the SENER Group operating in Aerospace, Engineering and Construction.

SENER Aerospace turnover in 2017 was 120 M€ with 700 staff. They have developed equipment for space applications for more than 25 years.

SENER Aerospace owns TRYO Aerospace (acquired in 2018) and SENER Aerospace Poland (founded in 2012). The three entities are different companies. 

SENER Aerospace has now been structured in five Divisions, as follows: 

An overview of the SENER Aerospace activities is provided hereafter:

ONERA is a public research establishment, created in 1946, with eight major facilities in France and about 2,000 employees, including 1,500 scientists, engineers and technicians. 

ONERA is working on some of today’s most important issues, including the reduction of noise and emissions, aircraft safety and air traffic management. At the same time, it is continuing its research into increasing the performance and competitiveness of airplanes, helicopters and launch vehicles. ONERA also addresses today’s fast-changing defence needs, such as surveillance and tracking systems, information processing, decision aids and aircraft autonomy.

 The following departments will work on this project:


The DTIS scientific research themes are: Systems design and optimisation, Systems identification and control, Cognitive Eng. and human-systems interaction, System and software engineering, Artificial Intelligence and decision, Applied mathematics, Perception and information processing, Robotics and autonomy, Safety and security of cyber-physical systems.

 

The DPHY designs innovative instruments and evaluates certain aerospace environments and their consequences on embedded systems. The DPHY develops in particular new inertial instruments for guidance-navigation, geodesy or fundamental physics, based on micro / nano technologies, electrostatics or atomic interferometry.

Based in France near Rennes, Syrlinks designs, develops and manufactures radio communication and radiofrequency products and systems for 4 business areas: space, defence, security and time-frequency. Syrlinks manufactures robust, miniature and high performance products for all its customers worldwide.

Syrlinks has been developing miniaturised OCXO since the late 80’s. Our EWOSTM Precision Oven Controller Crystal Oscillators are used in all Syrlinks' Space Radio Products as they provide very high reliability, low mass, and extremely low power consumption.  Syrlinks is today expanding its product range to new Timing Modules SGTMTM and MEMS Micro Atomic Clocks MMACTM.

SARL STARNAV, Limited company with capital of 212 000€, registered in CAEN under ID number 493 622 815 located 11 rue de Navarre, 14370 MOULT-CHICHEBOVILLE (FRANCE), represented by Georges LAMY AU ROUSSEAU, Managing Director.

STARNAV is an innovative company for geometric data extraction by image processing. As specialist in Industrial research and development (R&D) in the field of Health, Aerospace Spatial, Defence, it has a long experience in star tracking systems development and simulation. STARNAV’s skills include nocturne and daylight navigation data extraction.

STARNAV has been successfully involved in several research and development projects with the following customers: French DoD (DGA), MBDA, Safran Electronics and Defence, Naval group, Airbus Defence and Space, Ariane group, Nexter, Bertin Technology.

STARNAV has extended the scope of star trackers to other fields:


STARNAV received the 2018 Chanson Award for its Innovative weapon setting system RAPACE. National Award from the prestigious Army Armament Association, the “Ingénieur Général Chanson Award” highlights each year the most significant innovation characterised by an immediate operational advantage. The Medal was offered by the French Army Chief of Staff.

SYSNAV SAS is a French company founded in 2008 by former members of the inertial navigation team of the Ministry of Defence.

SYSNAV today is recognised as the reference player for:


SYSNAV is serving several different markets:


SYSNAV unique magneto-inertial technology is covered by over 25 patents. It relies on the interpretation of local magnetic field variations, which help navigation devices reach a level of geolocation performance and integrity that is unique for vehicles in GPS-denied environments.

SYSNAV technology relies on commercial MEMS, enabling very attractive price levels.

SYSNAV team includes 35 people, 21 of which are part of the Research and Technology team and has reached over 3 M€ turnover in 2018.

Along with the development of its technology, SYSNAV has consistently worked with partners to build safety-critical and life-critical systems, putting its inertial module at the heart of sensor fusion for safe positioning.

The Žilinská univerzita v Žiline/University of Žilina (UNIZA) - registered as public institution established by  Act No. 131 / 2002 Coll. on Higher Education and on changes and  amendments to some acts in the wording of later regulations as a public higher education institution (university) with registered address: Univerzitna 8215/1, 01026 Žilina, Slovakia, Company Registration No: 000397563, VAT: SK 2020677824.

At present, there are about 9,000 students being educated at seven faculties in 231 accredited fields of study in all forms and degrees of university studies at the University. In its over 60 years of successful existence, the University of Žilina has become the alma mater for more than 70,000 graduates, highly skilled professionals specialising mostly in transport and technical fields as well as in management, marketing or humanities. Education in the field of Aeronautical engineering is ensured under the framework of the Faculty of Operation and Economics of Transport and Communications in the close cooperation with further faculties within the University. The quality and readiness of our graduates for the needs of practice is proved by long-term high interest in hiring them by employers that cooperate with the University in the recruitment process.

Air Transport Department (ATD) is an educational and research workplace of the university aimed at air transport technology, technical, economic and operational subjects focusing on aircraft structure, operation of aircraft, navigation, communication, aeromechanics and aircraft performance, airline economics, operation, business and marketing, airport design and operations, as well as air traffic management. 

Consultation & research activities of the department are oriented to solving tasks related to air transport operation, management of air traffic services, global navigation satellite systems, aircraft maintenance, economy, airport design and operations, air transport security and safety. The Air Transport Department is ACI (Airport Council International) recognized educational institution, member of the EASN (European Aeronautical Science Network) and member of PEGASUS, ALICANTO, ATAERA and KAAT universities partnerships.

The Air transport department has an extensive knowledge of:

 

The structure of the university:

The Air transport department has teaching and research links with the Cranfield University Department of Transport; Politecnico di Torino, ENAC Toulouse; Department of Aerospace Engineering University of Glasgow; Universita of Trieste; EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre, Bretigny sur Orge; CRDS Budapest; Helios, aviation consultancy based in Farnborough. These links were established through various EU funded projects. UNIZA also maintains close research and consultation with the civil aviation industry in the former Eastern Europe countries.

The Air training and educational centre of the University of Žilina (LVVC) is the first ATO (Approved training organization) that has been established in the Slovak republic. It is a professional pilot training organization of great tradition reaching back to 1970's. It was one of the first organizations providing commercial pilot training in the region. The LVVC has also close connection and cooperation with the Air transport department on research and educational activities.

Now the LVVC operates 26 aircraft for training and research and 3 FNPT II MCC certified flight simulators. LVVC is fully certified for flight training and maintenance according to EASA. legislation.

AICIA is a non-profit association for research associated with the Higher Technical Industrial Engineering School of Seville (University of Sevilla), aimed at promoting, guiding and developing industrial research in Andalusia. AICIA has a total of 200 Researchers of the University of Seville in 25 Areas.

The Electronic Technology Group, GTE-TIC109, which is member of AICIA and that belongs to the Department of Electronic Engineering of the University of Seville (US) is a research group consolidated within Andalusian Plan of Research of Junta de Andalucía, qualified in the last evaluation with the degree of excellent. This group has different research lines with 59 researchers of the Electronic Technology Area, 36 of which are PhDs.

The aeronautical research line has gained a great importance since 2002, thanks to the creation of the degree in Aeronautical Engineering and to the R&D projects carried out by the group which are related to this field.

This research group maintains a solid collaborative relationship with EADS-CASA (nowadays AIRBUS-DS), and with BOEING-R&T EUROPE.

The group provides advising and develops researches and engineering projects within technological lines such as:

OPTIMISE

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Preparatory Action on Defence Research under grant agreement No 884134. The statements made herein represent the opinion and findings of the authors. The European Union (EU) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information they contain.

PROJECT COORDINATOR