About

Airborne or satellite-based remote sensing using radiofrequency (RF) or optical sensors has become indispensable for modern society. The capability for precise monitoring of the Earth's surface to track environmental processes, climate, geography, and topography not only drives environmental and climate research but also provides governments with crucial data for strategic decision-making, traffic monitoring, and national security. Only a fraction of the data obtained through remote sensing is open. For this reason, it becomes essential for governments to have access to this data and thus operate and maintain remote sensing systems properly to ensure lasting prosperity, security, and national sovereignty.

In particular, the costs of launching and operating remote sensing systems based on large platforms are prohibitively high. Hence, the development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) becomes necessary. Small or nanosatellites also become of great interest. However, appropriate instrumentation and signal and data processing still need to be developed and optimized to enable adequate performance.

This project proposes the creation of a National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) for remote sensing and airborne and satellite monitoring, aiming to promote national and international collaboration for the development of new sensing strategies, platforms, RF systems, antennas, instrumentation, and low-cost data and signal processing methods. The multidisciplinary INCT brings together renowned researchers from four Federal Higher Education Institutions (IFES) and one Private Higher Education Institution, along with several national and international collaborators. The goal is to create a stimulating and attractive environment for students at different levels, from undergraduate to graduate students, promoting the training of young and talented researchers.

The team of UFC researchers works in the areas of signal processing, wireless communication, and microelectronics for satellites. In the project, the team is responsible for the research and development of algorithms for sensing and communications systems, tests on experimental platforms, as well as the design and development of fault-tolerant systems for satellite communications.

Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)

The team of researchers of ITA works in the areas of remote sensing, communications, GNSS, integrated circuits and systems, and satellite technology. In the project the team of ITA is responsible for the development of sensing technology and experimental platforms for sensing and communications as well as design and development of signal processing algorithms and methods for remote sensing.

Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA)

Partner Institutions

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

The research team from UFRGS works in the control and navigation of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, satellite system design (particularly related to fault tolerance requirements), and integration of these two types of systems via wireless communication. In the project, the UFRGS team will work in these three areas, being responsible for developing the control and the coordination of multiple UAVs for remote sensing, providing fault tolerance support for the satellite system-related part of the project, and providing wireless communication solutions for the overall system integration.

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC-RS)

The PUCRS researchers work in the digital and embedded system areas, focusing on hardware and software design for manycore architectures based on Networks-on-Chip (NoCs). Their activities include designing tools for implementing NoC architectures, mapping and partitioning tasks, processing cores, and developing fault-tolerant mechanisms and microkernels for controlling many cores. In the project, they will design and develop fault tolerance mechanisms used in satellite processing and communication.

The team of UNIPAMPA has expertise in the design of antennas and microwave circuits, especially for communication systems, satellite-based navigation and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In the project, the team of UNIPAMPA is responsible for the design of antennas for SAR, analysis of the installed performance of the designed antennas after their integration onto the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and support on the design of the microwave circuitry for SAR systems.

Universidade Federal do Pampa (UNIPAMPA)

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Contact

inctsignals@gmail.com