DISTRIBUTED DRONE-BASED DEMONSTRATOR FOR SAR (D3SAR)

We are proud to announce the start of a two-year project funded by the European Space Agency – ESA, with Aresys serving as the prime contractor!

The project aims to demonstrate innovative multistatic concepts for satellite SAR systems through the use of drone-based platforms. Our contribution focuses on the definition of the multistatic SAR system and associated processing algorithms, the development of drone platforms with integrated SAR systems, system synchronization, and the execution of testing and verification activities.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in advancing SAR technology, paving the way for future spaceborne applications.

The images show a multistatic simulation with real drone data.

Cognitive radar, when radar meets AI

Aresys: “With Artificial Intelligence, Radars Process Data Directly Onboard”
Aresys integrates AI and radar technologies to monitor the planet in real time. A revolution that bridges academic research and industrial innovation, as CEO Davide D’Aria explains in this interview.

Today, Earth observation through radars, satellites, and space technologies plays a critical role in environmental monitoring and natural resource management. Founded in 2023 as a spin-off of the Politecnico di Milano, Aresys specializes in the development of advanced radar sensors and innovative software for satellite image processing.

On the sidelines of the 2024 International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Milan, Innovation Hero met with Aresys CEO Davide D’Aria, who shared the company’s future projects, highlighting in particular the significance of artificial intelligence in the space sector.

What Makes Aresys Unique?

Aresys focuses on developing technologies for Earth observation using an advanced system called Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). This specific type of sensor, mounted on orbiting satellites, provides high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface, delivering valuable data for various applications, including natural resource management, environmental monitoring, and emergency response.

Our company is involved in developing these sensors for small satellites, such as cubesats and microsatellites, as well as creating specialized software for image processing. These technologies not only enhance the quality of the collected information but also enable real-time data acquisition, significantly boosting the effectiveness of operations across multiple fields.

What Projects Did You Present at IAC 2024?

At the IAC, we highlighted the performance of the radar instrument developed for the “Saturn” mission. This mission marks an innovative leap in Earth observation, thanks to the launch of a small constellation of radar microsatellites funded by the Italian Space Agency.

The “Saturn” microsatellites are designed to operate synergistically, creating a detection network capable of delivering detailed data over vast areas efficiently and promptly. We are excited to showcase how this technology not only raises Earth observation standards but also unlocks new opportunities for commercial and scientific applications in the space sector.

What Role Does Artificial Intelligence Play in Your Operations?

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized many sectors, including space. In modern radar systems, we are witnessing a significant transformation: radars are becoming “smart” and capable of processing data directly onboard. This capability allows for real-time extraction of useful information and autonomous adaptation to varying environmental conditions.

We refer to these as ‘cognitive radars,’ embodying our vision of autonomous systems that enhance operational efficiency and the quality of collected data. AI implementation not only optimizes detection processes but also reduces the workload for operators, enabling them to focus on more strategic analysis and interpretation.

Aresys Was Founded as a Spin-off of Politecnico di Milano. How Can Academia and Industry Interact?

Although Aresys is now entirely privately owned, the connection with Politecnico di Milano remains strong and essential. This interaction is crucial for our development, as academia keeps us at the forefront of the latest innovations and breakthroughs in space technology.

Collaboration with universities extends beyond research. We actively support opportunities for undergraduate theses and doctoral projects, creating a fertile environment for nurturing emerging talent. Additionally, these ties allow us to quickly integrate cutting-edge research and technologies into our projects, keeping Aresys competitive in a rapidly evolving sector.

What Professional Profiles and Skills Does Your Company Seek?

Currently, Aresys is particularly looking for electronic and software engineers with experience in the space sector. We seek professionals who not only possess strong technical skills but also thrive in a dynamic and continuously evolving environment.

We are also recruiting project managers capable of overseeing the entire lifecycle of complex projects, ensuring each phase is successfully completed on time. At Aresys, we value continuous learning and teamwork, as we believe collaboration between experts from various disciplines is essential for addressing challenges in the space sector and driving continuous innovation.

Original version on Innovation Hero: https://innovationhero.it/2024/11/26/aresys-intelligenza-artificiale-radar/

CEOS 2024

The increasing number of SAR missions is providing to the Earth Observation community a “world” of new opportunities. At the same time, new challenges to ensure the calibration and the quality of the SAR data are rising.

When talking about SAR calibration, the CEOS SAR Cal/Val workshop is the place to be. As Aresys, we have contributed to this workshop for more than 10 years. It was a pleasure for us to attend the 2024 workshop held at the Space Applications Centre, ISRO in Ahmedabad (India) from the 12th to the 15th of November.

We were happy to present our contributions to Sentinel-1 calibration activities, the new open-source Sar Calibration Toolbox (SCT) that was used to verify the Indian SAR mission EOS-04 and the status of the development of a new active transponder for the Harmony mission. We wish to thank the ISRO – Indian Space Research Organization for hosting the workshop and all the attending people for the nice exchanges.

Looking forward to the next year workshop! 🛰️

How Aresys is advancing in SmallSat market

In the coming days, we will participate in the Small Satellite Conference to be held in Salt Lake City in 2025. To further strengthen our involvement in this market, ARESYS is preparing a series of papers on newly developed products: X-band Micro SAR Electronics, Light SAR On-board Processor, and Gigabit X-band Payload Data Transmission.

As the SmallSat market rapidly expands, ARESYS is pioneering advanced SAR technology for small satellites. We spoke with our 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿, Fabio Gerace, to learn more about ARESYS’s vision and innovations in this field.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗦𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗬𝗦 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿?

“ARESYS is actively developing advanced solutions to meet new user needs. Our focus is on designing high-performance Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payloads optimized specifically for small satellites and designed for large Earth observation constellations. Our goal is to make Earth observation more powerful and cost-effective, enabling greater accessibility to satellite data,” says Fabio.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀?

“We are currently engaged in strategic collaborations to provide high-precision imaging with SmallSats, expanding data acquisition capabilities across various applications. These next-generation SAR payloads support a wide range of uses, from environmental management to security and urban planning.”

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗬𝗦’𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀?

“The X-band Micro SAR Electronics is an innovative electronics and RF component of a SAR payload designed, developed, and qualified by ARESYS at TRL 6. It is intended for use on small satellites (starting from 40 kg) capable of acquiring SAR images in various modes, including Stripmap, Spotlight, SIMO, and MIMO (in swarm) configurations.”