The European Space Agency Tender

Current Search And Rescue (sar) Services Are Based On The Use Of Dedicated Beacon Devices (e.g. Epirb For Maritime Users, Elt For Aeronautical Users And Plb For Individuals) And Dedicated Signals In Bands Specifically Allocated By Itu To Search And Rescue Services. Users In Distress In Areas Within Terrestrial Cellular Network Coverage Can Also Use Their Smartphones To Call Emergency Services. However, There Can Be Situations In Which Users Under Distress Or Imminent Danger Do Not Carry Sar-specific Devices Or Are Not Within Coverage Of Terrestrial Cellular Networks. Under These Circumstances, The Detection And Geolocation From Space Of Signals Which Can Be Natively Transmitted By Mass-market Terminals Could Fill The Aforementioned Gap.a Number Of Challenges Need To Be Overcome, Like The Space-based Detection And Geolocation Of The Signals From Space Under The Interference Due To The Reception Of Signals From The Multiple Terminals Within The Satellite/beam Footprint. This Activity Aims At Investigating The Technological Enablers Required To Overcome These Challenges And Assess The Feasibility Of The Concept.this Activity Encompasses The Following Tasks:- Study Of Relevant State-of-the-art (geolocation Techniques From Space Of Signals, Mass-market Cellular Technologies And Signals, Etc.).- Definition Of Enabling Concepts And Associated Technologies And Trade-offs.- Design And Prototyping Of The Signal Processing And Geolocation Algorithms.- Validation Of Concepts And Prototyped Algorithms Using Signals From Simulated Signals (considering The Space-based Scenario) And Real Mass-market Signals (to Validate The Actual Signal Processing Algorithms).follow-on Activities Related To The Overall System Concepts And Service Definition Can Be Considered In Relevant Programmes Once The Feasibility Is Confirmed And Technological Enablers Have Been Properly Studied Within This Activity.