The MAMUT system is engineered to prioritize user needs. Through a dedicated app, users will have the option to select a satellite operator from LEO, MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) or GEO (Geostationary) orbits, thereby reducing costs and enhancing global flexibility. The terminal targets improved internet access for remote areas on land and sea, including oil rigs and mountainous regions where establishing a reliable connection is challenging.
George Goussetis, Professor of Microwave and Antenna Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, is applying his expertise to develop a flat satellite terminal antenna for MAMUT at a lower cost than current technologies.
He said: "The rise of satellite connectivity is opening up new opportunities in industries that previously lacked reliable internet access-such as offshore operations, autonomous transportation including Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drones, emergency response, and government missions." Dr Samuel Rotenberg, a researcher from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Heriot-Watt, is also contributing to the project. He said: "Currently, almost all Low Earth Orbit terminals on the market, or in development, focus on throughput performance metrics.
These terminals are often too large, expensive, and power-inefficient for many potential markets and satellite networks, which is slowing industry growth.
The MAMUT project will deliver a compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient terminal designed for use in static, mobile, and autonomous applications, offering modularity and cost flexibility to meet customer needs."
The MAMUT consortium also features Satellite and Space Consulting, Satraka Ltd and Jet Connectivity as partners. The UK Government has announced the projects selected to receive a portion of the UK Space Agency's Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme funding. With a total investment of GBP16 million, the programme is supporting UK industries in expanding their share of the satellite mega-constellation market through technology enhancements that boost efficiency and performance. With funding secured for three years, the team will now concentrate on prototyping the terminal and engaging with industry leaders to showcase the tangible and competitive benefits of their system.
Bethan Evans, Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate Technology Ltd, remarked: "This is perhaps the most exciting time ever to be involved in the global space sector, which is experiencing a period of rapid change and growth with significant new mega-constellations and thousands of new satellites being deployed in the coming years.
This GBP6million UK Space Agency funding now enables us to focus on developing a fantastic new product that will help keep the UK at the forefront of the space connectivity industry while helping connect communities in the most hard-to-reach areas of the UK and beyond."
Heriot-Watt University has unveiled plans to establish a space technology cluster at its Edinburgh campus. Offering initiatives that connect academic research with industry, including a newly introduced degree in Aerospace Engineering, the University aims to prepare students to propel future space advancements.
Professor Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, added: "At Heriot-Watt, we're building a vibrant ecosystem in space technology and innovation. Our university ranks number one in the UK for research in physics and is home to one of the five UKRI-funded quantum hubs, the Integrated Quantum Network hub, alongside multiple centres for doctoral training. We also host the Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS), a powerful telescope that underpins our photonics-enabled communication and satellite research, and we're co-located with a range of dynamic space-related businesses at our Research Park.
This unique combination of expertise, facilities, and industry collaboration means we can rapidly translate cutting-edge research into world-changing applications, exemplified by our role in MAMUT. From quantum communications to satellite connectivity, Heriot-Watt is proud to be driving forward the next wave of advancements in space-based technologies for the benefit of society and the global economy."
The project falls under the auspices of the UK Space Agency's Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme.
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