Airbus Crisa Advances Power Conversion for Active Antennas – Inside GNSS

Report on the Airbus Crisa Antenna Power Regulator (APR) and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advancing Sustainable Space Infrastructure

A recent technological development by Airbus Crisa, the Antenna Power Regulator (APR) module, marks a significant advancement in power conversion for satellite and communications payloads. This innovation directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by creating more resilient, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure in space. Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) NAVISP program, the project focused on redesigning power systems for active antennas to be lighter, smaller, and more energy-efficient, thereby enhancing the capabilities of critical global satellite networks.

Project Objectives and Alignment with SDG 7

The primary objectives of the APR project were strategically aligned with enhancing energy efficiency, a core tenet of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). By minimizing energy waste, the project contributes to more sustainable operational models for space-based assets.

1. High-Efficiency Conversion: To develop a digitally controlled converter capable of achieving unprecedented energy efficiency, reducing power loss and thermal waste.
2. Mass and Volume Reduction: To significantly decrease the physical footprint and weight of power systems, which lowers launch costs and the associated environmental impact.
3. Unyielding Reliability: To ensure the new design meets the rigorous reliability standards required for long-term space missions.

Technological Innovation and Resource Efficiency (SDG 9 & SDG 12)

The APR’s design incorporates several key innovations that advance sustainable engineering practices, reflecting the principles of both SDG 9 and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

• Gallium Nitride (GaN) Topology: The use of GaN-based components enables higher switching frequencies and efficiencies approaching 98%, a substantial improvement over conventional systems.
• Digital Regulation: A cold-redundant FPGA provides precise digital control over independent, bidirectional converter channels, ensuring stable power delivery to RF power amplifiers.
• Modular and Scalable Architecture: The design allows multiple converters to operate in parallel, offering scalability for higher power demands.
• Use of COTS Components: The integration of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) parts promotes cost efficiency and rapid scalability, aligning with responsible production patterns.

Performance Evaluation and Validation

Rigorous electrical, functional, and thermal testing confirmed the viability of the APR design. While the prototype marginally exceeded its mass target, a common outcome in first-generation hardware, the electrical performance met or surpassed all expectations. The validation of the converter topology and its digital supervisory logic confirms the model’s readiness for integration into flight-grade systems. This successful validation provides a proven pathway toward more energy-efficient satellite payloads.

Broader Impacts on Global Sustainability (SDG 11 & SDG 13)

The APR technology is foundational for next-generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems. By improving the efficiency and longevity of these satellites, this innovation provides indirect but crucial support for other global goals.

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Enhanced GNSS and PNT services are essential for managing smart transportation systems, improving urban planning, and coordinating effective disaster response in cities.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): More efficient power systems support Earth observation satellites that monitor climate change, track extreme weather events, and provide critical data for environmental management.

Future Outlook: A Roadmap for Sustainable Power Systems

The success of the APR project has established a clear roadmap for Airbus Crisa’s future power products. The company plans to develop a series of Modular Power Supply Units (MVPSUs) through 2030, incorporating the lessons learned from the APR. This long-term strategy demonstrates a commitment to producing smaller, cooler, and more intelligent power systems, ensuring that future satellite infrastructure is built on a foundation of efficiency and sustainability.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The article directly addresses this goal by detailing a significant technological innovation—the Antenna Power Regulator (APR) module. The project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), focuses on upgrading satellite infrastructure to be “lighter, smaller, and more energy-efficient,” which is a core component of building resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• This goal is relevant due to the article’s strong emphasis on energy efficiency. The new technology is designed to create “smarter power systems” and achieves “efficiencies nearing 98 percent.” This contributes to the broader objective of improving energy efficiency in technological applications.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The effort to reduce the “mass and volume of power systems” connects to SDG 12. By making components lighter and smaller, the technology promotes more efficient use of materials and resources in the production of high-tech industrial goods like satellites.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• An indirect connection can be made through the application of the technology. The article states that the APR “supports GNSS satellite-based navigation and PNT systems.” These systems are critical infrastructure for modern, sustainable transportation and logistics within cities and communities, contributing to their overall resilience and efficiency.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes…”
   • The development of the APR module is a direct effort to upgrade satellite infrastructure. Its high energy efficiency (“nearing 98 percent”) and reduced physical footprint (“lighter, smaller”) represent an increase in resource-use efficiency and the adoption of a more environmentally sound technology for the space industry.
2. Target 9.5: “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries…and encourage innovation…”
   • The project itself, funded by the “European Space Agency (ESA) NAVISP program” and executed by “Airbus Crisa,” is a clear example of enhancing scientific research and upgrading the technological capabilities of the aerospace sector through innovation.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

1. Target 7.3: “By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.”
   • The article highlights that the new GaN-based technology provides a significant leap in performance, not just an “incremental gain.” Achieving efficiencies “nearing 98 percent” in power conversion for satellite payloads is a substantial contribution to improving energy efficiency in a specialized, high-tech field.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

1. Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.”
   • The stated goal of the project to “reduce mass and volume of power systems” directly aligns with this target. Using fewer materials to build smaller and lighter components for satellites represents a more efficient use of natural resources in the production cycle.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• Implied Indicator for Target 9.4: The article provides a direct metric for energy efficiency improvement, stating the technology delivers “efficiencies nearing 98 percent.” It also mentions the goal of reducing “mass and volume,” which serves as an indicator for resource-use efficiency, even though the prototype “marginally exceeded mass targets.”
• Implied Indicator for Target 9.5: The existence of the project, its funding by the “ESA NAVISP program,” and the development of a successful prototype are indicators of investment in research and development (R&D) and successful innovation within the aerospace industry.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Implied Indicator for Target 7.3: The key performance metric mentioned, “efficiencies nearing 98 percent,” serves as a direct indicator of progress in energy efficiency for this specific application. The article contrasts this with “bulky, heat-intensive supply chains” of conventional systems, implying a significant rate of improvement.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Implied Indicator for Target 12.2: The physical characteristics of the technology—”mass and volume”—are used as key performance indicators in the project. The goal to make payloads “lighter, smaller” is a direct measure of material efficiency.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: insidegnss.com