The French CEA technology-research organisation and Swiss satellite IoT operator Astrocast have collaborated on a low-cost, bidirectional communication module that lets corporations communicate with their remote assets in areas not covered by terrestrial networks.

The module’s L-band chip, based on an architecture developed by CEA-Leti, is a key hardware component that enables Astrocast customers to communicate cost-efficiently with their assets in the field via its network. It was completed earlier this year in an expedited project between the research institute and Astrocast, and is embedded in Astrocast’s RF module, called Astronode S.

The chip’s architecture is split over the RF core and digital processing and control units. It is optimiaed to support Astrocast’s dedicated bidirectional ground-to-satellite protocol and provides a trade-off between link budget and low-power and low-cost constraints. The chip also embeds all low-Earth orbit (LEO), satellite-specific features such as satellite detection and robustness to Doppler shift.

The surface-mount module communicates with terrestrial devices via Astrocast’s constellation of LEO satellites. Using the L-band spectrum, the network primarily targets maritime, oil and gas, agriculture, land transport, and environmental applications in which ubiquitous coverage is required.

“Terrestrial IoT networks cover only about 15 per cent of the planet, which leaves vast remote and rural areas where our global satellite network provides coverage that is crucial for our target markets,” said Laurent Vieira de Mello, Astrocast’s COO. “Leveraging its expertise embedded in a preliminary version of the RF chip, CEA-Leti developed its chip and delivered the final prototype to meet our requirements and time-to-market goals. They managed the chip technology transfer to our industrialisation, qualification and production partner.”

The project’s critical time-to-market window was managed through a flexible collaboration model covering both prototype and industrialisation phases.

“An accelerated time-to-market goal drove this project from the outset,” said Michel Durr, business development manager at CEA-Leti. “We pioneered this RF technology in 2019, and our team customised it for Astrocast up to production in only three years.”

CEA-Leti’s industrial tester used for characterisation was key to accelerating from prototype to production, which enabled prototype characterisation in parallel on the tester and in the lab, Durr explained.

“This process provided a short-loop debug capability with all skills available at CEA-Leti, and enabled us to deliver fully validated inputs to Astrocast’s industrialisation partner for an easier industrial test-programme development,” he said.

The low-energy, compact, surface-mount Astronode S module for integrated, battery-powered IoT systems is said to offer a total cost of ownership up to three times lower than traditional satellite IoT alternatives.

The CEA is a player in research, development and innovation in four main areas: energy transition, digital transition, technology for the medicine of the future, and defence and security.

Founded in 2014, Astrocast develops and tests all its products in-house, from the satellites to the modules.