Creating and sharing knowledge for telecommunications

Project: PROgrammable MIxed Signal Electronics

Acronym: PROMISE
Main Objective:
Space Market is liviSpace Market is living a mutation with the emergence of NewSpace, promoting integration/
miniaturization, satellite acceleration, cost-efficient and cost-reduction approaches for all mission types: Earth Observation,
Science, Telecom, Navigation and Robotic Exploration. Accordingly, middle range ASIC solutions are in competition with
high performance/high capacity FPGA, new multicore devices and Rad Tolerant parts and COTS. Indeed, Mixed Signal
ASIC solutions offer functional added value for testability of electronic units and digitalization of full analog functions. Hence,
the PROMISE project sets clear and measurable objectives to optimize the design cost, shorten schedule and de-risk analog
and mixed ASIC radhard design, manufacturing and qualification by covering the needs of the space industry. More
specifically, PROMISE will provide the space community with a flexible mixed signal ASIC architecture design ecosystem
built on a portfolio of hardened features. The project will also provide a flexible mixed signal ASIC manufacturing and
qualification ecosystem. Last but not least, PROMISE will deliver IP dissemination, commercialization and intellectual
property management to allow efficient reuse of the project’s outcomes and efficient environment for new IPs and mid-range
ASIC design for space applications. PROMISE, led by Thales Alenia Space, encompasses diverse European partners,
subcontractors, potential users or solution providers, all top actors of the European Mixed Signal ASIC ecosystem. The
market for mega constellations is in full swing and several initiatives promoted by different operators are already underway.
Thanks to PROMISE, a 50 % market share will be reached, so an estimate of 706 satellites will be delivered within a period
of 5 years. Assuming only 1 PROMISE based ASIC per constellation and at least 4 pieces of this ASIC per satellite, this
means more than 2800 units will be delivered in the first 5 years after the project.
Reference: 870358
Funding: EU/H2020
Start Date: 01-01-2020
End Date: 31-12-2024
Team: Nuno Cavaco Gomes Horta, António Manuel Lourenço Canelas, Jorge Manuel Correia Guilherme, Nuno Calado Correia Lourenço, Ricardo Filipe Sereno Póvoa, Ricardo Miguel Ferreira Martins, Fábio Moreira de Passos
Groups: Integrated Circuits - Lx
Partners: INSTITUTO DE TELECOMUNICACOES, ISD LYSEIS OLOKRIROMENON SYSTIMATONANONYMOS ETAIREIA, IVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM, MENTA SAS, Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy, THALES ALENIA SPACE ESPANA, SA, THALES ALENIA SPACE FRANCE
Local Coordinator: Nuno Cavaco Gomes Horta

Associated Publications