Welcome to the heart of innovation at DSI Aerospace. Our Research & Development department thrives on tackling the toughest challenges in space exploration. Here, we conceive, design, and test pioneering technologies that shape the future of space and enable us to reach beyond the known. Discover our ongoing projects and get a glimpse of the future, today – for a better space.
The MMU-NXT study seeks to create a new architecture for Mass Memory Units (MMUs), improving storage capacity and data rate. Achieved by leveraging state-of-the-art NAND flash technology and separating the system into a Command and Control Module and Mass Memory Module, the design ensures efficient high data rate handling. Performance boasts include an aggregated data rate of 20 Gbps, 48 Tibit storage capacity, and multiple interfaces, setting the groundwork for functionalities like data reception, storage, and preparation for downlink, error management, and telecommand handling.
“The development of this high-performance Memory Management Unit involves various new challenges. We come across interesting solutions during this process, all with the goal of designing a memory unit for future space missions in mind.”
seeks to revolutionize on-board data processing, compression, and storage for SAR applications in satellite technology
The SOPHOS study aims to develop advanced on-board data processing, compression, and storage solutions for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) applications. As the number of satellites and their capabilities grow, a robust system, integrating traditional high-reliability components and modern industrial COTS technologies, is needed for small satellites. SOPHOS will enhance spacecraft efficiency by optimizing payload processing and data storage systems, miniaturizing high-performance hardware, and integrating state-of-the-art technologies. This approach will enable higher data product performance, particularly in small and nanosatellite platforms, meeting the rising demands of data-intensive space applications like SAR earth observation.
“It’s great to work together with our European partners and develop systems for future missions. Our dedicated team is exploring new technologies that advance the state of the art.”
The future of 3D communication, combining ground, aerial, & satellite networks for seamless connectivity
Current mobile networks, which are terrestrial and two-dimensional, suffer from inadequate coverage and insufficient capacity in certain situations. The 6G-TakeOff project aims to address these issues by developing a unified 3D communication network that combines ground-based nodes with flying network nodes like satellites, drones, and high-altitude platforms. This innovative 3D network will have features like dynamic reallocation of network functionalities and autonomous connectivity management. The implementation of such a network requires the combined efforts of the aerospace and telecommunications industries. The 6G-TakeOff project seeks to lead this initiative, creating a robust platform for next-generation communication.
“Participating in a study on 6G represents a great opportunity to be at the forefront of defining next-generation communication standards. The collaboration with a wide array of partners enriches this experience, bringing together varied perspectives that are as challenging as they are rewarding.”
Aims to advance wearable BCG technology through sensor miniaturization and to add a user-friendly, data-rich GUI
The DR.BEAT project aims to further develop a sensor system, created by DSI, for capturing Ballistocardiography (BCG) signals. The updated system will feature AI-assisted signal processing, data analysis, and visualization. The project aims to miniaturize the system, maintaining high signal quality, to enable integration into wearable devices or smart textiles. The system will rely on ultra-low-power (ULP) FPGAs for processing, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for communication, which provides an universal interface for most mobile devices. The system will wirelessly transmit recorded BCG signals to base stations or gateway devices for analysis. PLRI, a consortium partner, will conduct investigations with the sensor system, contributing extensive expertise to the project. The focus is on classifying cardiovascular parameters and predicting changes over time with AI. The user interface will be designed by User Interface Design GmbH (UID), who will help interpret heart parameters from the massive amount of data. Continuous measurement is a key goal for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial scenarios.
“It is exciting to do research on health in space within the DR Beat project. To observe the change of the heart due to the lack of gravitational influence with such a small sensor in space and draw the conclusions is true research and development for me.”
“R&D pushes our products beyond state-of-the-art to be prepared for the next big missions with challenging requirements.”
Ole Bischoff Director R&D
Science & Exploration
Unveiling the wonders of the cosmos. Missions studying the planets of our solar system and enabling human exploration provide the foundation for understanding the secrets of our universe.
ADHA‑2 is a ESA lead program to develop a modular standard for avionics units in the next generation of Earth Observation spacecraft. By utilizing the cPCI-SS backplane standard, the partners in ADHA‑2 are developing a series of interchangeable avionics modules to support future spacecraft needs. DSI is contributing with our Mass Memory technology, and in the development of the backplane standard. DSI can provide high performance memory solutions in a modular backplane compliant to the ADHA.
AIComS
The “AI for Satellite 5G Communications” (AIComS) project aims at developing AI/ML-based SW/HW platforms for future products of an integrated satellite and 5G&beyond communication network.
Lead by the Department of Communications Engineering (ANT) from the University of Bremen, the consortium consists of several industrial and academic partners from the space and communication industry (Uni Bremen, DLR, NXP, Tesat, S4, ZfT). DSI will develop a high-performance on-board computing platform for 5G NTN Baseband Processing, using the latest available space-grade FPGA technologies and will also provide an optimized high-throughput IP-core for on-board Machine Learning applications.
ATCOS
The current space market and the irruption of disruptive actors have drastically changed the procurement policy of components for Space applications. In a natural market step, many of the actual designs are being moved from top quality level space parts to lower grade, especially from the automotive and even commercial sector, which are available in short lead times and especially at reduced cost. However, this change of paradigm and innovative approach comes with uncertainties in terms of understanding the reliability of commercial parts and especially about the effectiveness of different high-level test approaches, to complement / replace the standard EEE parts level testing. Being aware of the new situation, significant effort has been performed by ESA, National agencies and ECSS to establish a framework for the new approach. However, no agreed or harmonized innovative approaches of testing at board/equipment level especially through accelerated methods have been defined yet, and it is not clear yet, how these correlate to traditional component level testing. The overall aim of this study is to gain profound insight into the actual performance and reliability of commercial parts with special emphasis on automotive components. The study refers to the activity of testing a typical test object (mass memory board) with special considerations in terms of reliability, radiation performance and infant mortality.
EMC‑3
Complex orbital sensors depend on advanced circuits. Managing their heat in space is challenging. The E‑MC3 project, involving DSI Aerospace GmbH, Institute of Space Systems, and TU Braunschweig’s Institute of Condensed Matter Physics, explores innovative thermal management using magnetocaloric materials (MKM). Considering factors like vacuum and solar radiation, E‑MC3 aligns with German funding efforts in space components. This innovative approach allows for compact designs, vital for earth observation and communication. Additionally, this method could aid scientific payloads in space and supercooled components for quantum computers. Magnetocaloric cooling in space electronics is novel, giving entities like DSI a competitive edge. This can bolster Germany’s position in satellite payload design advancements.
Exdimum
The EXDIMUM project aims to improve extreme water management using high-resolution satellite imagery, digital terrain models, and terrestrial sensor data. This project includes an innovative sensor system demonstration for terrestrial soil and vegetation data collection. These systems leverage Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) ICs and AI methods for efficient data pre-processing, driving the sensor platform components. Components are evaluated for energy consumption, robustness, and cost, ensuring longevity, fail-safety, and reliable communication.
FastTrack
The FastTrack Project aims to revolutionize space-worthy digital chip development in Europe by creating a system-on-chip with high computational capabilities . The system’s goal is to support both demanding on-board applications and safety-critical processes, using the latest SOI semiconductor technologies. This innovative approach aims to reduce average development time from 5–6 years to 2–3 years, establishing a significant lead over the European aerospace electronics industry.
iMarEx
The iMarEx initiative investigates both classic AI and Machine Learning applications in various maritime exploration fields. It explores robust state estimation, time-variant environment and propagation models, adaptive exploration strategies, and optimal path planning. The challenge lies in implementing these methods on embedded systems, necessitating specialized hardware solutions. A powerful, error-tolerant RISC‑V processor system with integrated AI acceleration will be developed, targeting maritime exploration mission requirements. The approaches will be integrated into a robotic watercraft and evaluated through realistic tasks. The goal is to localize and approach a liquid outflow source autonomously, facilitating further investigations or samplings. The execution strategy will adapt based on sensor-identified threshold values of foreign substances.
R3FPGA
With increasing demands on the computing power of future missions, it is essential that available resources are used efficiently, which can be achieved through greater flexibility (e.g. reconfiguration of FPGAs). However, the challenges of this study are to work out how a reconfiguration of FPGAs can be performed reliably even under radiation and which mechanisms have to be implemented in hardware and software to achieve this goal. The study does not focus on a specific application or a particular system architecture. Rather, the question is how the reconfiguration of FPGAs from different manufacturers and technologies (Flash, SRAM) can generally be reconfigured in space. How long does a reconfiguration take and how often can it be performed are important questions for use in future missions. The R3FPGA system consists of a reconfigurable target FPGA that represents the actual application of the mission and a reconfiguration engine that is responsible for managing the reception storage and deployment of the configuration bitstreams, and controlling the proper state of the target FPGA. Additionally, a generic interface based on standardized TM/TC commands (PUS) is developed and implemented in the bootloader. Special attention is given to the overall reliability and robustness against radiation induced SEEs as well as SEFIs during the critical reconfiguration process as well as interaction with the scrubbing process, essential for SRAM-based FPGAs. For this reason, a test platform that consists of a reconfiguration engine and a target FPGA is exposed to radiation (heavy ion and proton) to proof the robustness of the system.
TRIPLE-nanoAUV 2
The TRIPLE-nanoAUV 2 project, part of DLRs Explorer Initiative, builds upon the concepts and ideas developed in the previous phases, TRIPLE-nanoAUV1 and TRIPLE-MoDo. Its goal is to finalize the design of a small autonomous underwater vehicle (nanoAUV) and the necessary peripheral equipment for its launch and recovery (LRS). Key areas of focus in this phase include the mechanical hardware, mechanisms, energy supply, on-board computer, and the hydroacoustic communication and autonomous docking system. The scientific payload, which will be developed in the TRIPLE-LifeDetect project, will be integrated into the design of the nanoAUV and LRS. Following the design phase, the hardware components will be manufactured, assembled, and integrated.
Afterwards, the nanoAUV and LRS systems will be merged with software solutions developed in the TRIPLE-GNC project for autonomous operation. They will be tested extensively, validated, and then demonstrated in field tests under the Antarctic ice.The final demonstration scenario for TRIPLE-nanoAUV 2 is planned for spring 2026, under the Antarctic shelf ice near the Neumayer III Station.
VamEx
The VamEx project is a research initiative by the DLR Space Management, aiming to explore the possibility of life on Mars using a heterogeneous, autonomous swarm of robots. This exploration focuses on Valles Marineris, one of the largest rift valley systems in our solar system, which holds potential for life due to indicators of water presence, past volcanic activity, and UV radiation shielding.
Life on Mars could exist in niches similar to those in Earth’s harsh regions, such as Antarctica’s dry valleys, where organisms thrive on certain minerals and minor amounts of water. The challenge is to develop systems that can autonomously and error-tolerantly accomplish the mapping task in such hostile environments. The mission seeks to develop an understanding of the geological, soil chemical, and atmospheric conditions on Mars that may support life.On the Martian surface, atmospheric pressure is 6 mbar, at the triple point of water. However, at the bottom of Valles Marineris, the pressure increases to 13 mbar, possibly enabling liquid water. Evidence of cooled basaltic lava and mineralogical changes due to water flow also hints at potential habitats. The navigational demands for this mission are high, necessitating optimal sensors and algorithms to map Mars’s surface.