In today's globalized World we are dependent on a flawless operation of a range of space based services such as GPS and satellite communication networks.

Traditionally, large, heavy, and costly satellites based on relatively old, but well-known technology, have provided these services. However, since the beginning of 2000, smaller and less costly types of satellites called "nanosats" and "CubeSats" have gained an increasingly stronger position as a provider of space based services.

SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO

The vision of the project "Software-defined Orbiting Flexible Transceiver" (SOFT) was to develop an integrated flexible radio platform for technology based on the so-called “Software Defined Radio” (SDR) technology allowing the same hardware platform to be reused for different radio based services on board a nanosat.

The radio-module should be able to provide a range of functions, including: GPS reception, secure and reliable high-speed data transfer, spectrum monitoring, and aircraft tracking. The module can support multiple of these functions for the same satellite mission, meaning that the number of on-board systems required for a single satellite mission is reduced, which results in satellite mass and cost savings for the operator of the satellite.

The project will result in the development of the hardware platform, the overall software architecture, and an initially limited set of radio functions with focus on reliable communication. The overall aim is to provide manufactures of small satellites with a platform that may readily be adapted to specific customer needs. 

AN INNOVATION FUND DENMARK PROJECT

The SOFT project was a project running from 2014-2016 with support from Innovation Fund Denmark with a total budget of DKK 9 million. The collaborating partners in the project was Aalborg University together with the Danish space companies GomSpace and RESEIWE.