Abstract: A feed array is provided that may be installed in a reflector antenna provided with a single or dual reflector optics. The feed array includes a radiating array for transmitting/receiving radiofrequency signals, a digital beam forming network, a reception conversion unit for applying a frequency down-conversion and an analog-to-digital conversion to incoming radiofrequency signals to obtain incoming digital signals. The feed array includes a transmission conversion unit for applying a digital-to-analog conversion and a frequency up-conversion to outgoing digital signals generated by the digital beam forming network to obtain outgoing radiofrequency signals. The digital beam forming network processes the incoming digital signals by using a reception matrix, and generates the outgoing digital signals by using a transmission matrix, with the matrices computed based on electric field values measured by the radiating array in the focal region.

Abstract: A feed array for reflector antennas is provided that may be installed in a reflector antenna provided with a single or dual reflector optics and that includes: a radiating array arranged in a focal region of the single/dual reflector optics and operable to transmit and receive radiofrequency signals; digital beam forming means; reception conversion means connected between the radiating array and the digital beam forming means and designed to apply a frequency down-conversion and an analog-to-digital conversion to incoming radiofrequency signals received by the radiating array thereby obtaining incoming digital signals, and provide the digital beam forming means with the incoming digital signals; and transmission conversion means connected between the radiating array and the digital beam forming means and designed to apply a digital-to-analog conversion and a frequency up-conversion to outgoing digital signals generated by the digital beam forming means thereby obtaining outgoing radiofrequency signals, and pr

Abstract: A satellite telemetry, tracking and command system including ground stations, on-board units and a network control center. Each on-board unit is installed on board a respective satellite and is configured to compute a future orbital path of the satellite and determine when the respective satellite is within the visibility region of one of the ground stations on the basis of the satellite's positions and velocities computed and of the stored coverage data. When the respective satellite is within the visibility region of a ground station, the on-board unit may transmit to said ground station the downlink signals and receive therefrom the uplink signals; and carry out actions/operations corresponding to the commands received from the ground stations. The ground stations may be networked together and may send and receive information to and from the network control center.

Abstract: A method includes: a) producing initial scheduling plans based on requests related to tasks to be performed within a time period by a remote sensing satellite; wherein each initial scheduling plan schedules respective tasks, which do not conflict with each other in time and in using satellite resources; and each task is scheduled in at least one of the initial scheduling plans; b) applying a genetic-algorithm-based processing to the initial scheduling plans to produce a genetic-algorithm-based scheduling plan which is for mission objectives, and complies with constraints related to the satellite resources, to the tasks, and to the time period; and c) applying a simulated-annealing-based processing to the genetic-algorithm-based scheduling plan to produce a simulated-annealing-based scheduling plan that fits the mission objectives, complies with the constraints, and in which a larger number of tasks is scheduled than in the genetic-algorithm-based scheduling plan.

Abstract: A group for allowing free orientation of a sphere with respect to outside force fields includes a support structure, a sphere, two locking elements acting from opposite sides on the sphere and useful to keep the sphere in a right position during a nonoperational phase of the group, at least four drop supports located around the sphere and able to form drops and to keep them at a desired temperature, and an isolation structure useful to isolate the above devices from the surroundings and to prevent dust deposition on the sphere surface and the four realized drops, and cooling device able to keep the sphere at a temperature lower than that of the drops.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining a trajectory for a transfer of a spacecraft from a starting space body to a target space body with respect to a given central space body, wherein the determined trajectory is optimal with respect to a given space mission requirement to be met by the transfer of the spacecraft. The method comprises providing, according to the Pontryagin maximum principle, a physical-mathematical model relating model quantities and physical quantities representing the transfer of the spacecraft with respect to the given central space body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a satellite communication system for extending communications between a vehicle and a satellite in an area of non-visibility of the satellite. The satellite communication system comprises a fixed transceiver system and a mobile transceiver system. The fixed transceiver system includes a first antenna intended to be positioned outside the area of non-visibility of the satellite, and at least one second antenna coupled with the first antenna and intended to be positioned in the area of non-visibility of the satellite. The fixed transceiver system is configured to receive through the first antenna downlink signals transmitted by the satellite on at least one downlink carrier frequency and to transmit the received downlink signals on the at least one downlink carrier frequency in the area of non-visibility of the satellite through the at least one second antenna.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tracking system configured to track a product and/or an activity. The tracking system comprises a tracing device and a verification server. The tracing device is coupled with the verification server by means of communication means configured to allow exchange of data between the tracing device and the verification server. The tracing device is coupled with a first satellite localization receiver which is configured to receive signals from a satellite localization system, process the received signals to obtain satellite localization observables, and compute locations based on the satellite localization observables. The tracing device is configured to acquire from the first satellite localization receiver positioning data. The tracing device is further configured to provide the verification server with the positioning data and the satellite localization observable acquired from the satellite localization receiver.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a target in a sea area based on a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image thereof. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image is made up of pixels, each having a respective magnitude. The method comprises computing a first reference quantity which characterizes a Poisson distribution assumed for the magnitudes that the pixels in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image would have if the sea area were free of targets. The method further comprises selecting pixels in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, computing a real quantity which characterizes a real statistical distribution of the magnitudes of the selected pixels, and detecting a target in the sea area based on the computed first reference and real quantities. The selected pixels are in a one and the same sub-image of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, and detecting comprises detecting a target in a sea subarea of the sea area, the sea subarea being represented by the sub-image.

Abstract: An indoor localization system for locating an electronic mobile device within an indoor environment is provided. The indoor localization system includes a plurality of transmitting nodes arranged in different positions within the indoor environment and configured to transmit RF signals. An electronic mobile device is configured to receive the RF signals from the transmitting nodes. The indoor localization system is configured to operate in a training mode, wherein reference quantities are computed based on powers of the RF signals received from the transmitting nodes in different reference positions within the indoor environment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) receiver. The SBAS receiver is configured to receive SBAS messages containing augmentation data and to provide one or more served GPS receivers with augmentation information based on the augmentation data extracted from the received SBAS messages. The SBAS receiver is designed to implement a Finite State Machine (FSM) intended to be common to all served GPS receivers, and configured to evolve based on the received SBAS messages and to store the augmentation data contained therein. The common FSM is further configured to cooperate with a number of correction modules equal to the number of served GPS receivers, each correction module being configured to receive GPS data from a corresponding served GPS receiver, and to compute an augmented position for the corresponding served GPS receiver based on the corresponding GPS data and on augmentation data retrieved from the common FSM.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically detecting fires on Earth's surface by satellite. The method includes: acquiring multi-spectral images of the Earth at different times, each a collection of single-spectral images each associated with a respective wavelength, each image being made up of pixels each indicative of a spectral radiance from a respective area of the Earth; computing an adaptive predictive model predicting spectral radiances at a considered time for considered pixels based on previously acquired spectral radiances of the considered pixels and those previously predicted for the considered pixels by the adaptive predictive model; comparing acquired spectral radiances of the considered pixels at a considered time with those predicted at the same considered time for the considered pixels by the adaptive predictive model; and detecting fires or atmospheric phenomena in areas of the Earth's surface or atmosphere corresponding to the considered pixels based on an outcome of the comparison.

Abstract: A method of estimating a position of a satellite receiver, comprising computing a weight matrix, and computing an estimated position of the satellite receiver based on the weight matrix, wherein computing the weight matrix includes computing quantities indicative of degradations experienced by satellite signals and of multipath interference, and computing the weight matrix based on the computed quantities.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identifying persistent scatterers in digital “Synthetic Aperture Radar” images of an area of Earth's surface each taken at a respective time. The method involves processing the digital Synthetic Aperture Radar images to produce digital generalized differential interferograms. The method further involves analyzing properties of pairs of pixels in the digital generalized differential interferograms to identify individual pixels imaging persistent scatterers.

Abstract: A method is provided for automatically detecting fires on Earth's surface by satellite. The method includes: acquiring multi-spectral images of the Earth at different times, each a collection of single-spectral images each associated with a respective wavelength, each image being made up of pixels each indicative of a spectral radiance from a respective area of the Earth; computing an adaptive predictive model predicting spectral radiances at a considered time for considered pixels based on previously acquired spectral radiances of the considered pixels and those previously predicted for the considered pixels by the adaptive predictive model; comparing acquired spectral radiances of the considered pixels at a considered time with those predicted at the same considered time for the considered pixels by the adaptive predictive model; and detecting fires or atmospheric phenomena in areas of the Earth's surface or atmosphere corresponding to the considered pixels based on an outcome of the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a satellite image retrieving system that comprises electronic input means, electronic retrieving means, and electronic storing means. The electronic input means are coupled with the electronic retrieving means and are configured to generate input data and to provide the electronic retrieving means with said input data. The input data is indicative of a given geographic area. The electronic retrieving means are coupled with the electronic storing means that are configured to store satellite images, each satellite image stored on the electronic storing means representing a corresponding area of the earth's surface and being associated with corresponding telemetry data generated and associated with the satellite image by a satellite that has remotely sensed the satellite image.

Abstract: In a synthetic aperture radar system monitoring an area containing at least one moving target for identification, the target is equipped with an identification device, which receives the radar signal transmitted by the radar system, and transmits a processed radar signal obtained by modulating the incoming radar signal with a modulating signal containing target information, such as identification and status information, and by amplifying the modulated radar signal; the radar echo signal reflected by the monitored area and containing the processed radar signal is received and processed by a control station of the radar system to locate the target on a map of the monitored area, and to extract the target information to identify the target.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining a trajectory for a transfer of a spacecraft from a starting space body to a target space body with respect to a given central space body, wherein the determined trajectory is optimal with respect to a given space mission requirement to be met by the transfer of the spacecraft. The method comprises providing, according to the Pontryagin maximum principle, a physical-mathematical model relating model quantities and physical quantities representing the transfer of the spacecraft with respect to the given central space body.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting fires on Earth's surface using a satellite system is provided. The method includes acquiring multi-spectral images of the Earth at different times, using a multi-spectral satellite sensor, each multi-spectral image being a collection of single-spectral images each associated with a respective wavelength (?), and each single-spectral image being made up of pixels each indicative of a spectral radiance (R?) from a respective area of the Earth. The method also includes providing a model relating the spectral radiances (R?) of each pixel in multi-spectral images acquired at different times and physical quantities representing thermodynamic phenomena occurring on the Earth's surface, in the Earth's atmosphere, and related to the Earth and the Sun relative positions. The method further includes computing for each pixel, at a given time, at least the physical quantity in the model representing a possible fire on the Earth's surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identifying persistent scatterers in digital “Synthetic Aperture Radar” images of an area of Earth's surface each taken at a respective time. The method involves processing the digital Synthetic Aperture Radar images to produce digital generalized differential interferograms. The method further involves analyzing properties of pairs of pixels in the digital generalized differential interferograms to identify individual pixels imaging persistent scatterers.