Consultancy
Consultancy
Expert Consultancy for RF and Microwave Solutions:
At EECL, we specialise in providing comprehensive engineering consultancy services tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Our team of experienced professionals offers expert guidance across various engineering disciplines, ensuring that each project benefits from our extensive industry knowledge and innovative solutions.
Our consultancy services encompass:
Project Feasibility Studies: Assessing the viability of proposed projects through detailed analysis and strategic planning.
Design and Development: Crafting bespoke engineering designs that align with client specifications and industry standards.
Manufacturing and Test Services: Delivering precision-engineered products, with rigorous testing protocols to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring all projects adhere to relevant regulations and safety protocols.
Project Management: Overseeing projects from inception to completion, maintaining timelines, budgets, and quality benchmarks.
Technical Support and Training: Providing ongoing assistance and training to optimise the performance and longevity of engineering systems.
By partnering with EECL, clients gain access to a wealth of expertise and a commitment to excellence, driving the success of their engineering endeavours.
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CASE STUDIES
ESA HydroGNSS
EECL partnered with Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) on a consultancy
project to design a high performance RF front end for the European Space Agency’s
(ESA) HydroGNSS mission. HydroGNSS, part of ESA’s Scout program, aims to
deploy a spacecraft capable of capturing both direct and reflected GNSS (GPS and
Galileo) signals. This innovative approach, known as GNSS reflectometry, uses
these signals as passive radar to measure critical environmental parameters such as
biomass, soil moisture, forestation, and more.
EECL’s engineering expertise resulted in a highly optimized RF front end, delivering
exceptional performance with an ultra-low noise figure to meet the mission’s
stringent requirements. The success of the design phase led to a significant
milestone: at Space-Comm Expo 2022, EECL signed a contract with SSTL to
manufacture and deliver nine flight-ready payload units. Following rigorous
environmental testing, all nine units were delivered on schedule, exemplifying
EECL’s commitment to precision and reliability.
The HydroGNSS mission leverages a bistatic radar concept, utilising GNSS-reflected
signals to conduct hydrological measurements. These include monitoring soil
moisture, freeze/thaw states over permafrost, above-ground biomass, and
wetlands—contributing valuable insights to global environmental studies.
EECL takes immense pride in being a key contributor to the HydroGNSS mission,
showcasing our capability to deliver innovative solutions for complex space
challenges.
University of Surrey
EECL was approached by the Faculty of Engineering to design and manufacture two
large-scale reflector metamaterial antennas—an ambitious and highly challenging
project. These antennas were intended to reflect 6G beams around corners,
requiring two distinct variants: one with a passive surface providing a fixed angle of
reflection and another with an active surface capable of electrically steering the
beam.
The concept existed only on paper, with each antenna needing to measure
approximately 3m x 3m. The designs required the use of fragile, heavy ceramic
substrates with strict electrical property specifications to ensure the desired RF
performance. Adding to the complexity, the project coincided with a COVID-19
lockdown, and the antennas had to be manufactured, assembled, and delivered
within just 12 weeks. They also needed to be easily movable on wheels within a
demonstration environment.
Despite these significant challenges, EECL successfully delivered on time. The
completed antennas feature thousands of surface-mounted components and large
dielectric panels, precisely assembled and stitched together using exotic materials.
Mounted on a custom-built demonstration rig, the antennas worked flawlessly,
meeting the University of Surrey’s exacting requirements. The delivered design
worked perfectly for the University of Surrey and can be seen on display in the
university main entrance.
Radiation Testing for ESA
EECL conducted three comprehensive radiation test campaigns for the European
Space Agency (ESA) and SpacePNT to validate the active components of the GNSS
module destined for ESA’s Lunar Pathfinder mission to the Moon.
The campaigns were carried out at two prestigious facilities: UCL in Belgium and
GSI in Frankfurt, using a heavy ion particle accelerator. In total, 16 devices were
tested, including FPGAs, MPUs, memory modules, analog ICs, RF transceiver chips,
and power supplies. To ensure efficient and accurate testing, we designed custom
test boards that enabled rapid and flawless evaluation of each component.
All three campaigns were executed seamlessly, yielding highly positive results.
Through this process, we gained invaluable insights into optimizing test sessions of
this complexity and scale, further strengthening our expertise in radiation testing for
space applications.
Lumen Orbit – X-Band Front End
EECL was recommended to Lumen Orbit to provide consultancy on RF link budgets
for spacecraft communications. Within just one day, we completed the analysis and
delivered a clear and comprehensive set of recommendations. The objective was to
establish a high-speed inter-spacecraft data connection at X-band.
Our assessment highlighted the need for a custom RF front end and down-converter
to minimize noise figure, enhance phase noise performance, and effectively filter
unwanted signals. Based on our recommendations, EECL was selected to design,
manufacture, and deliver the required hardware.
We successfully developed a flight-qualified X-band converter unit within an
impressive 10-week timeframe. To ensure reliability, the unit underwent rigorous
vibration and thermal cycling tests, and we delivered it with a complete data
package—all at a cost lower than commercial alternatives.
The project concluded with outstanding results and a satisfied client. We eagerly
await updates on the unit’s performance during its first spaceflight.
University of Surrey – 6G Test System
EECL was engaged by the University of Surrey to consult on the design and delivery
of a precision test box for installation on a real mobile phone base station. The
device needed to enable high-speed multiplexing of multiple antennas with precise
timing while meeting stringent requirements: it had to be waterproof, exhibit ultra-low
loss, provide high isolation, and remain controllable when mounted 30 meters high
on a mobile mast. Additionally, it required operation from a -48V power supply and
had to be delivered within an ambitious three-week timeframe.
We rapidly developed an innovative solution incorporating low-loss PIN diodes, a
microprocessor to handle precision timing, and a custom power supply to
accommodate the challenging base station voltage.
This was all integrated into a
robust, waterproof enclosure designed for outdoor installation. After completing the
design and fabrication, we successfully installed and commissioned the test box on-
site, ensuring it was fully operational and met all performance requirements.
Expertise
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Experience
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Innovative
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EECL are renowned for their expertise in delivering innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable engineering solutions, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client across a variety of industries.
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