Mini-BOT – Miniaturized Board-mountable Optical Transceiver for high data rate Military Satellite Communications
Popular-science summary
Modern satellites process ever-increasing amounts of information generated by communication, observation, and sensing systems. As data volumes grow, conventional electrical interconnections between onboard devices become a limitation in terms of transmission speed, power consumption, system weight, and size. Replacing them with fibre-optic communication enables much faster data transmission while reducing mass and energy demand.
The aim of the Mini-BOT project is to develop a miniature optical transceiver that can be mounted directly on an electronic board and used for high-speed fibre-optic communication inside satellites. The device is designed to achieve a data throughput exceeding 100 Gb/s while maintaining very small dimensions, a mass below 2 g, and high resistance to radiation and harsh space conditions.
The module combines three advanced technologies: ultra-high-speed VCSELs and photodetectors, radiation-tolerant SiGe BiCMOS electronic circuits, and miniature metasurface-based optical elements. The project therefore develops not only a new transceiver, but also the key component technologies that may later be used in other compact and energy-efficient photonic systems.
Project objective
The main objective of the Mini-BOT project is to develop a European technology for a high-bandwidth, miniature, and radiation-resistant optical transceiver for internal communication in satellite systems. The module is intended to provide data transmission at rates exceeding 100 Gb/s while maintaining very low power consumption and a small footprint.
The project covers the design of the complete transceiver, development of its optoelectronic and electronic circuits, development of miniature metasurface-based optical components, and preparation of technologies enabling integration of all these elements into a single compact module. The work includes transceiver specifications and detailed design, development of optoelectronic and electronic integrated circuits, metasurface optics, and exploitation of the project results.
An important objective is also to establish a European supply chain for high-performance optical transceivers and to reduce the dependence of the European space and defence sectors on non-European sources of key technologies and components.
Project partners
The Mini-BOT consortium consists of: LEO Space Photonics R&D, Greece – project coordinator, VIGO Photonics S.A., Poland, NAPA Technologies, France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – CNRS, France, Lodz University of Technology, Poland.
The consortium combines expertise in optical system design for space applications, VCSEL and photodetector technology, high-speed electronics, metasurfaces, and numerical modelling and characterization of optoelectronic devices.
Role of Lodz University of Technology in the project
Lodz University of Technology is primarily responsible for the design, numerical modelling, optimization, and characterization of ultra-high-speed VCSELs that form a key component of the Mini-BOT optical transmitter.
The work carried out at TUL includes the design of VCSEL structures capable of very high-speed optical modulation and analysis of the mutually coupled optical, electrical, and thermal phenomena that determine laser performance. The structures developed by TUL are subsequently used for epitaxial growth and device fabrication in cooperation with the technological partners of the project.
An important part of the TUL activities is also the experimental characterization of the high-frequency properties of the developed VCSELs and comparison of the experimental results with numerical models. The project therefore includes the use of a dedicated high-frequency VCSEL measurement setup as well as computational infrastructure for laser design.
The largest contribution of the TUL team is concentrated in WP3, “Transceiver opto-electronic and electronic integrated circuits”.
Expected impact of the project
Mini-BOT is expected to contribute to the development of a new generation of optical communication systems for satellites, enabling very large amounts of data to be transmitted with lower power consumption, reduced mass, and smaller onboard hardware. This is particularly important for satellite systems equipped with increasingly advanced sensors and onboard data-processing units.
In security and defence applications, the development of reliable and radiation-resistant optical communication can increase the capabilities of European satellite systems while reducing dependence on technologies supplied from outside Europe. One of the expected outcomes of the project is the establishment of a European supply chain for high-performance optical transceivers for such applications.
The project also has broader technological significance. The ultra-high-speed VCSELs, photodetectors, energy-efficient electronic circuits, and metalenses developed within Mini-BOT may also be applied in other compact optical data transmission systems and integrated photonic platforms. Of particular importance is the integration of optoelectronic, electronic, and metasurface components within a very small module compatible with scalable semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
From an economic perspective, the project can strengthen the capabilities of European companies and research institutions in advanced photonic technologies for the space and defence sectors and provide a basis for further development of European components for high-speed optical communication.
Project funding
The Mini-BOT project, “Miniaturized Board-mountable Optical Transceiver for high data rate Military Satellite Communications”, is funded under the European Defence Fund (EDF), call EDF-2021-OPEN-R-SME.
The total project value is EUR 3,429,599.17. The project is funded at 100% from European Union funds under the European Defence Fund. The budget allocated to Lodz University of Technology is EUR 390,565.12 and is also funded at 100% from EU funds.