CATEC develops different lines of business for the Space sector, combining its high expertise in the development of technological solutions with a clear orientation to the needs of its customers.
Its capabilities include the design and development of technologies for autonomous systems, from highly advanced GNC systems to payloads and swarms of customized systems, as well as advanced manufacturing technologies. It also has extensive experience in space mission structures, satellite and space systems development, on-board data processing and downstream applications.
A clear commitment to new technologies that will undoubtedly contribute to the development of the industry in an increasingly consolidated sector:
- On-orbit AI processing: design of AI algorithms capable of running in real time and with limited computational capacity given the weight and size constraints of satellites (especially nanosatellites and small satellites).
- Earth observation applications combining data obtained by drones, which have high spatial accuracy but have limitations in covering large areas, with satellite data that have a lower spatial resolution but can cover large areas. The use of advanced sensory fusion techniques allows complementing both data and obtaining useful and quality information to end users.
- In-orbit services for satellites through the application of space robotics and advanced perception technologies, allowing the automatic docking of extensions to satellites in orbit to complement their systems and increase their useful life or perform repair and maintenance tasks in orbit.
- Space debris removal through novel systems that force re-entry or allow the capture of space debris through the use of advanced space robotics technologies and automatic systems for detection, identification and tracking of mobile objects by means of on-board sensors.
- Space debris removal by means of novel systems that force re-entry or allow space debris capture through the use of advanced space robotics technologies and automatic systems for detection, identification and tracking of mobile objects by means of on-board sensors.
- Design and development of advanced rover guidance, navigation and control algorithms and satellite attitude and orbital control algorithms, with a high degree of autonomy to minimize the need for supervision by ground operators in order to maximize efficiency and reduce operating costs.
- Use of AI algorithms for the design and development of automatic failure detection and identification algorithms for launchers and satellites. Together with advanced planning and control techniques to enable automatic reconfiguration of systems to allow the spacecraft (satellite or launcher) to safely continue with the mission.
- Design of advanced functionalities and systems for HAPS, including payloads and mission computing systems, to support HAPS platform developers to integrate functionalities to increase the autonomy of their systems, increasing the safety of operations and increasing mission efficiency.
- CATEC offers its UAS fleet and test facilities (indoor testbed of 15x15x5 meters and ATLAS flight centers with a segregated airspace of 1.000km2) to perform initial validations of space technologies in controlled environments, such as: relative navigation systems, automatic landing systems, automatic mission planners, etc.
- Additive manufacturing using powder bed fusion (PBF) technology. In this line, we have experience in the design of components with optimized geometry, material characterization, manufacturing, manufacturing process simulation and post-processing, for structural, radio-frequency and heat exchange components.
- Advanced testing: environmental, structural, non-destructive and accelerated life testing of different components, both structural and electronic, following ESA standards.
- Advanced coatings: use of genetic simulation algorithms for the design of multilayer materials for different functionalities (e.g., for improvements in thermal, optical, electrical properties, etc.), as well as in the subsequent definition of treatments, characterization and environmental tests for the validation of results.
- Digitalization of production: use of digital technologies to support manual processes. Thus, mixed reality is used for the transmission of instructions to operators, artificial vision for process quality control, collaborative robotics for the semi-automation of processes, virtual assistants based on NLP or LLM technology, or automatic learning for process improvement. Among the processes supported are assemblies of subassemblies, electronic components, mechanical components, etc.
- Hybrid structures: design, simulation, manufacturing, post-processing and testing of components with super-elastic / shape memory materials, to increase performance against possible impacts, as well as to facilitate the operation of mechanisms. Additionally, hybrid metal and polymer mechanisms to achieve advanced functionalities.
- Structural monitoring: advanced monitoring of spatial structures, together with massive data mining and the use of machine learning techniques to improve damage characterization and identification. Additionally, advanced simulation techniques for the prediction of the behavior and prognosis of the components.