The strategic objective of HEFPA is IP development of integrated and efficient millimetre wave (mmW) radio frequency (RF) front-end components that enable the creation of mmW transceiver systems. Specifically, under radio standards such as 5G, the successful deployment of mmW communications is predicated to the availability of large-scale, phased-array antennas that focus the RF signal into one or more directions in order to improve radio link margin.
Within one HEFPA set of components, all of the core RF functions for mmW (@37 – 48 GHz) radio signals are incorporated including mmW signal generation and conditioning such as amplification, phase-shifting and filtering, antenna elements, and integrated circuit (IC) packaging. One HEFPA set of components comprises the IF to RF elements suitable of RF communications at 5G NR upper FR2 frequency bands or SatCom (but, more importantly, has the capability to be placed to build up larger phased arrays). Therefore, mmW product developers shall be able to quickly and flexibly build up specific phased array antenna configurations as well as hybrid combinations of phased arrays and MIMO technology (= hybrid beamforming) by deploying a number of HEFPA assemblies. For example, in a digital industry context, consider a mmW radio link between a high resolution factory camera (on a stationary or moving object) and an image processing unit which might deploy 4 HEFPA components in order to build out a 2 x 8 antenna array which will provide the RF signal beam steering and high bandwidth data connectivity.
The business relevance of the HEFPA components is that it reduces complexity in the formation and deployment of mmW radio links thereby expanding the market reach of data communications using this allocated band of RF spectrum. Smaller system integrators and RF product application developers will be able to use HEFPA components to quickly build flexible phased array antennas (with all the associated RF generation and signal conditioning circuitry) using the 37 – 48 GHz frequency bands (as allocated in each jurisdictional region). New applications that will leverage high bandwidth wireless communications will be made possible through HEFPA components.
Targeted markets will be very broad in the sense that any use-case that is going to be reliant upon high-bandwidth, large data throughput wireless communications will benefit from being able to deploy HEFPA components in the build-up of the phased array that is needed. Commercial impacts are primarily time-to-market, flexibility including reuse of supporting infrastructure to a variety of antenna array factors, and energy consumption. The key innovations of HEFPA will be:
- Highly optimized and energy efficient RF signal generation and amplification in a compact modular form factor. This will reduce energy consumption by 30% as compared to existing solutions in a multitude of radio links leveraging the mmW frequency bands.
- The implementation of a novel, hybrid antenna elements, combining the technological advantages of conventional wafer-level packaging approaches with the cost-efficiency and thermal management capabilities of panel-level printed circuit board fabrication (System-in-PCB).
- System & digital integration of an arbitrary number of HEFPA components which shall work cooperatively to form the mmW beam(s).
The HEFPA consortium leverages our partner’s strengths in use-case definition, IC design, and system engineering in order to realize the core HEFPA building blocks. Moreover, the consortium partners will demonstrate how that such building blocks might be assembled into a variety of phased array and hybrid beam forming configurations.
The following two use cases are specifically targeted in HEFPA:
- mmW control and comms for UAVs – 5G NR
- Benefits:
- Enhanced responses to disasters:
- mmW-enabled unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and UAVs connected to a command and control station can help law enforcement perform high-definition surveillance as part of a connected network and first responders to address natural disasters in the case of major disaster/event.
- Enhanced workplace safety:
- Enabled by high-definition sensor systems, remote robotic manipulation can be deployed in treacherous or hazardous situations, or difficult to reach areas, protecting workers or first responders by reducing the risk of injury or exposure to health threats.
- Agricultural monitoring:
- The ability to isolate problem areas on a large farm through high-definition UAV-based aerial real-time scanning and detection, has the potential to save farmers significant crop losses.
- Enhanced responses to disasters:
- Benefits:
- SatCom
- Benefits:
- Extending Business Operations:
- Connect geographically remote environments and conduct remote facility monitoring and real-time asset management at unmanned sites and offshore platforms.
- Energy and mining companies will leverage satellite-based sensor networks to support their projects.
- Transforming Transportation Infrastructure:
- Enabling broadband connectivity on trains, cargo vehicles and maritime vessels in the global transportation landscape.
- Ubiquitous Coverage – Bridging the ‘Economic Divide’:
- Innovative IoT applications will emerge from the connectivity of intelligent devices.
- With billions of devices around the world, the potential scale of the IoT demands ubiquitous network coverage between satellite operators and carrier integrated services, even in remote locations.
- Extending Business Operations:
- Benefits:
About the PENTA programme:
PENTA is a EUREKA cluster whose purpose is to catalyse research, development and innovation in areas of micro and nanoelectronics enabled systems and applications. Guided by the Electronic Components & Systems (ECS) Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) key application areas and essential capabilities, the PENTA programme enables the development of electronic solutions to help drive the digital economy through the formation of collaborative ecosystems along the ECS value chain. This creates the opportunity for rapid competitive exploitation and a strong impact on European societal challenges. PENTA supports SMEs, large corporations, research organisations and universities to work together in project consortia by facilitating access to funding, fostering collaborative work and creating consortia in areas of mutual industrial and National interest.
PENTA is operated by AENEAS.
More on PENTA: http://www.penta-eureka.eu More on AENEAS: https://aeneas-office.org