SAFER PROJECT

The SPARKS project addresses the topics of interest defined with the RESTART project by SPOKE 3. Specifically, SPARKS addresses two of the main candidate technologies that are emerging for the next generation of wireless networks, i.e., the use of cellular architectures with a radically new approach to network deployment known as cell-free massive MIMO and the trend to scale up the carrier frequencies used for wireless communications, from units of GHz to mmWave frequencies, and up to THz frequencies ranges, which points in the direction of electrically-large antenna arrays.

Project purpose

UniCA unit will be responsible to multiphysics analysis of antennas and EM structures, with a particular emphasis on thermal-electromagnetic coupling issues. This will be done using a simulation software, such as COMSOL, based on a description of the thermal sources (external, such as sunlight in cubesat antennas, and generated into the subsystems, including the RF one) and of the thermal response of materials and RF components.

Expected results

The final aim is to device an optimization procedure aware of the thermal behavior, preventing overheating issues, assessing energy efficiency, and ensuring adequate thermal performance.

Results achieved

(Subsequently, the achieved results will be presented, highlighting the financial support received from the European Union)

CUP: D43C22003080001

Total cost: € 3.304.711,54

Amount financed: € 3.000.000,00

UniCA total cost (and amount financed): € 125.000,00

Funding agency: Politecnico di Milano, through a Cascade Call in the Framework of NextGenerationEU, PNRR Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.3, Program “RESearch and innovation on future Telecommunications systems and networks, to make Italy more smART” RESTART ( code PE00000001 – CUP B83D22001190006)– funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU

Starting date: May 1, 2024

End date: December 31, 2025

Principal Investigator: Prof. Alessio Zappone, Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale

Partners:

Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale

Università degli Studi dell’Aquila

Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro"

Università degli Studi di Cagliari

Università della Calabria

Università della Campania Vanvitelli "Luigi Vanvitelli"

Università degli Studi di Genova

Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope

Università degli Studi di Pavia

Università di Pisa

Università degli Studi di Salerno

Università degli Studi di Trento

Adant

Keysight Technologies Italy s.r.l.

Quantavis

SIAE MICROELETTRONICA

Space Technology

UniCA local coordinator: Prof. Giuseppe Mazzarella

Dip. Ing. Elettrica Elettronica      Univ. di Cagliari

Piazza d'Armi - 09123 CAGLIARI  ITALY

Ph. + 39  070 675 5783          Fax + 39  070 675 5782      Cell.  + 39 320 437 2920

Contacts:

E-mail mazzarella@unica.it