Space Technology at

EPFL

2015 edition

eSpaceSPACE

ENGINEERINGCENTER

Executive summaryWith the creation of the Space Engineering Center (eSpace) in 2014, EPFL positioned itself as a key player in space technology. As part of its mission, eSpace is actively training a new generation of space engineers, ready to respond to the upcoming rise in small sat-ellite constellations. eSpace is at the forefront of spacecraft development, pushing the capabilities of small satellites beyond anything achieved until now. These new agile “or-bital drones” will be able to perform automously different proximity operations, including on-orbit servicing, inspection, formation flights and, not least of all, active debris removal. The background image of this page illustrates EPFL’s flagship mission CleanSpace One, which will find, capture and de-orbit SwissCube, EPFL and Switzerland’s first satellite. As a complement to these flight projects, the school is pushing basic space technolo-gy development within its network of state-of-the-art laboratories. The EPFL ecosystem not only includes laboratories entirely active in the field of space, but also hybrid labs with strong space and ground synergies. The purpose of this document is to provide a glimpse of the capabilities and infrastructures available within these labs, in fields as var-ied as material research, robotics and microtechnology.

Credit Jamani EPFL

A word from the director

A word from the VPAA

Professor Philippe GilletVice-President for Academic Affairs, EPFLHead, Earth and Planetary Science Laboratory

In the hearts of women and men, space is the ultimate frontier, the definite proof of quality for science and engineering. As such, it fits perfectly with the vision of Switzerland and EPFL, which has, over the last years, truly defined itself as an outstanding technical university. SwissCube, the first Swiss satellite, largely designed and fabricated at EPFL and still operating 6 years after launch, is a testament to the cal-ibre of our students and staff. In addition to its own projects, eSpace is now mandated to bring new areas of research into space, working in close proximity with the 350 world-renowned laboratories that form EPFL. We believe that strong space research programs will include a large synergy with ground applications, including regular spin-in and spin-off. EPFL fully supports the ongoing efforts to create these syner-gies, and believes that they are well aligned with the goal to establish EPFL as a world renowned Center of Excellence in Space engineering.

It is with great pleasure that eSpace presents the first “Space Tech-nology at EPFL” document. In these pages, we identify many of the EPFL activities that are either currently ongoing or that hold great potential in the field of space R&D. This document is central to one of the core missions of the EPFL Space Engineering Center: helping more EPFL labs apply their research to space. This living document, regularly updated, will rapidly become the prime refer-ence for EPFL in the field. The breadth of activities identified is im-pressive and we are confident that new ideas, technologies, col-laboration and innovation will stem from this showcase document.

Professor Herbert SheaDirector, EPFL Space Engineering CenterHead, Microsystems for Space Technologies Laboratory

EPFL at a glanceEPFL is Europe’s most cosmopolitan technical university with students, professors and staff from over 120 nations. A dynamic environment, open to Switzerland and the world, EPFL is centred on its three missions: teaching, research and technology transfer. EPFL works togeth-er with an extensive network of partners including other universities and institutes of tech-nology, developing and emerging countries, secondary schools and colleges, industry and economy, political circles and the general public, to bring about real impact for society

• Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (a.k.a. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)• Created in 1968 (Roots back to 1853)• Student population (2014): ~10k (5.1k bachelor, 2.6k master, 2k PhD)• Faculty (2014): 338• Expenses (2014): 895 MCHF (70% federal funding)• 192 startups in 2000-2014• Strategic involvement in space since 2004

Modeling and aerothermodynamics

Electronics

Software

Robotics and mechanical systems

Plasma and energy science

Microtechnology and optics

Materials and structures

Earth and Space Observation

eSpace Space

Engineering Center

Physics of Aquatic Systems Laboratory (APHYS)Professor Johny Wüest and Doctor Damien Bouffard

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Earth and Planetary Science Laboratory (EPSL)Professor Philippe Gillet and Doctor Harold Clenet

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Laboratory of Astrophysics (LASTRO)Doctor Jean-Paul Kneib 9

Geodetic Engineering Laboratory (TOPO)Professor Bertrand Merminod and Doctor Jan Skaloud 10

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Composite Construction Laboratory (CCLAB)Doctor Anastasios P. Vassilopoulos 12

Laboratory of Mechanical Metallurgy (LMM)Professor Andreas Mortensen and Doctor Ludger Weber 14

Applied Computing and Mechanics Laboratory (IMAC)Professor Ian Smith 13

Interdisciplinary Aerodynamics Group (IAG)Doctor Pénélope Leyland 17Computational Mathematics and Simulation Science (MCSS)Professor Jan S. Hesthaven 18

Laboratory of Photonics and Quantum Measurements (LPQM)Professor Tobias Kippenberg 15Microsystems for space technologies laboratory (LMTS)Professor Herbert Shea 16

Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering (LRESE)Professor Sophia Haussener 19Swiss Plasma Center (SPC)Professor Ambrogio Fasoli and Doctor Ivo Furno 20

Biorobotics Laboratory (BioRob)Professor Auke Ijspeert 21Laboratory for Applied Mechanical Design (LAMD)Professor Jürg Schiffmann 22Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory (LASA)Professor Aude Billard 23Robotic Systems Laboratory (LSRO)Professor Hannes Bleuler 24

Rigorous System Design Laboratory (RISD)Professor Joseph Sifakis 25

Embedded Systems Laboratory (ESL)Professor David Atienza 11

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Collaborations and funding sources 27

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eSpaceeSpace

DirectorProfessor Herbert Shea

Deputy DirectorDr. Simon Dandavino

Senior scientistMs. Muriel Richard-Noca

Senior scientistDr. Anton Ivanov

Senior scientistDr. Philippe Müllhaupt

Mission The EPFL Space Engineering Center (eSpace) shall promote space related research and development at EPFL by providing world-class education, leading space technology development activities, coordi-nating multi-disciplinary learning projects and bringing EPFL labora-tory research to space.

Vision To establish EPFL as a world renowned Center of Excellence in Space Engineering, seeding new technologies and ideas for space R&D by combining EPFL’s strengths based on a solid background in project and systems engineering.

The Space Engineering Center (eSpace) was created in 2014 follow-ing a re-structuring of EPFL space activities, but carries the baggage of over 10 years of development of small satellites at EPFL, including the design and launch of SwissCube, the first Swiss satellite. Its staff is internationnally recognized in the field of system engineering and mission analysis for small satellites, particularly in the context of orbital debris removal.

The EPFL Space Engineering Center

Roles

Description

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education

flight projects

researchat epfl

technology demonstrations

hands on learning projects

exploratory projects

eSpace core teamBefore joining EPFL to found the Microsystems for Space Technol-ogies Laboratory in 2004, Herb Shea worked at IBM’s Watson Re-seach Center and Lucent Technology’s Bell Labs. Holding a PhD in Physics from Harvard university, he has co-authored a book on MEMS reliability and is author or co-author of over 60 publications.

Simon Dandavino was awarded a PhD at EPFL in the field of electric micropropulsion for small spacecraft. He had previously worked as a process integration engineering at DALSA Semicon-ductor, where he led product development and problem solving teams. Today he manages the business development, operations and strategic development of eSpace.

Muriel Richard joined EPFL in 2004 to spearhead the SwissCube development efforts. She had been recruited from NASA’s Jet Pro-pulsion Laboratory, where she was a senior engineer in the Deep Space mission architecture group. Muriel holds a M.Sc. degree from the California Institute of Technology.

Anton Ivanov is the resident space science expert at eSpace. He received his PhD in planetary science from the California Institute of Technology in 1999 and went on to work as an instrument scien-tist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He joined EPFL in 2007 and took charge of the installation of the Concurrent Design Facility.

Philippe Müllhaupt received his PhD in non-linear control from EPFL in 1999. His theoretical research interests lie in the field of ge-ometric and algebraic methods for nonlinear control systems. He is also a lecturer for classical mechanics, nonlinear control, linear control and multivariable state space methods. Philippe joined eSpace in 2015 to take over the Guidance, Navigation and Control aspects of the upcoming microsatellite missions.

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eSpaceeSpace

Recent eSpace projects

Infrastructure available at eSpace

Active Debris Removal• Optimisation of the mission architecture to remove 10 large debris per year. Collaboration with

MIT Strategic Engineering Research Group (Prof. Olivier L. de Weck)• CubeSat Technology Pre-Developments, QB-50. Active Debris Removal, ESA Contract No

4000108772/13/NL/FE• OTV-2 study, 2013, Astrium SAS - CNES Consultation DAJ/AR/LA/001 - Maturation de concepts et

technologies pour traitement des débris

Ground segment and software• FP7 QB50 An international network of 50 CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ measurements in the

lower atmosphere and re-entry research, GA#284427• ESA Small mission CHEOPS

Image processing and Mars planet science• FP7 iMars. Analysis of Mars multi-resolution images using auto-coregistration, data mining and

crowd source techniques, GA#607379• NCCR PlanetS

Systems engineering and mission analysis• FP7 Microthrust, MEMS-based electric propulsion for small spacecraft to enable robotic space

exploration and space science, EU GA#263035• SwissCube satellite and mission, CH internal and RUAG funding• CubETH satellite and mission, CH internal funding• CleanSpace One satellite and mission, CH internal funding• Solar sytem dynamics modeling for asteroid deflection. Collaboration with MIT Strategic Engi-

neering Research Group (Prof. Olivier L. de Weck).

• Laboratory ~160 m2

• Clean room ISO 8 (class 100’000), 12 m2

• RF test equipment• High precision rotation table• Soldering stations• Small Thermal Vacuum Chamber

• Concurrent design facility• 13 work stations• ESA CDF tool under test• Capability to work with ESA CDF

• Access to EPFL electronics/mechanical workshops and class-100 clean room

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CADRE-1Launch date: 2018

Orbit type: Sun SynchronousOrbit altitude: 550km

Mass: 4kg (Target) and 16kg (Chaser) Size: 10cm x 20cm x 20cm (Target) and 20cm x 20cm x 20cm (Chaser)

Mission: CubeSat Proximity operations demonstratorFeature: Most capable ESA CubeSat technology demonstrator

CleanSpace OneLaunch date: 2020

Orbit type: Elliptical interceptMass: 80kg

Size: 40cm x 40cm x 40cmMission: Active Debris Removal

Feature: First orbital capture of an uncooperative object

SwissCubeLaunch date: 2009

Orbit type: Sun synchronousOrbit altitude: 720 km

Mass: 800gSize: 10cm x 10cm x 10cm

Mission: Airglow observationFeature: First Swiss satellite, Over 200 students

CubETHLaunch date: 2017

Orbit altitude: 500 kmMass: 1.3 kg

Size: 10cm x 10cm x 10cmMission: Precise orbit determination

Feature: EPFL-ETHZ collaboration, >90 students so far

eSpace Flagship missions

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eSpace

Space education at EPFLThrough the minor in Space Technology, EPFL hosts the only formal space training program in Swit-zerland. Master level students come from diverse horizons to learn the tools and methods required to become efficient and innovative space engineers. Over two dozen courses are available, including topics in system engineering, planetary science and astronaut Claude Nicollier’s “Space mission de-sign and operations” class.

A hands-on approachWe believe that good engineering comes from practical experience. As such, the minor includes a mandatory 12 ECTS project within the program. This is a great opportunity for students to work on one of the ongoing satellite projects, or to explore other aspects of space research in one of the EPFL laboratories. The 18 other credits required for the minor can be chosen within a list over two dozen courses. More information is available at eSpace.epfl.ch/minorSpaceTech.

34%

35%

5%

7%

4%

4%

11%

Where do the students go?(Sampling of 55 recent graduates)

Academia Aerospace Consulting ITRobotics Watch Other

26 27

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58

10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14

Students registered in the Minor in Space Technology in last 4 years

Course name Prof. ECTSIntroduction to the design of mechanical space hardware Mäusli 2

Introduction to planetary sciences Ivanov 2

Lessons learned from space exploration Toussaint 2

Satellite communication systems and networks Farserotu 3

Space mission design and operations Nicollier 2

Spacecraft avionics systems, architectures and processors Storni 2

Spacecraft design and system engineering Richard 4

(+18 other courses) 53

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Core master courses (60 ECTS)

Master thesis (30 ECTS)

Project (12 ECTS)Courses (18 ECTS)

Minor in Space Technology

Industrial internship (2-6 months)

eSpaceeSpace

Physics of Aquatic Systems Laboratory

(APHYS)

Professor Alfred WüestDoctor Damien Bouffard

+41 21 693 57 54 - aphys.epfl.ch

Infrastructure

Projects and funding

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Our laboratory is fully equipped to ground truth remote-ly sensed information of inland water (full list available on aphys.epfl.ch):

• Boat• Multiparameters sonde• Hyperspectral sensors• Temperature sensors (etc)

This research involves remote sensing activities focusing on:

• Coupling information sources, in-situ measurements, remote sensing, and hydrodynamic modelling. We aim here at developing a coupling approach that establishes a mutual feedback between three information sources: spaceborne remote sensing observations, in-situ measurements, hydrodynamic and biological models.

• Inland water remote sensing from hyperspectral imagers. We aim here at applying modern measurement and processing technology to assess the potential of remote sensor with high spectral and spatial resolu-tion applied to inland waters. In particular, we are aiming at an enhanced understanding of the relations between the water constituents’ (IOPs) and biogeochemical properties for different lake types. This activity involves dedicated expertise in ground truthing measurements.

• APHYS is involved in the phase 0 of the SOLVE (Satellites Observing of Lakes and Vegetation Environments) mission. This mission aims at providing hourly hyperspectral observations, which will be used to monitor highly dynamic processes for water and vegetation, with a constellation of small satellites.

The aims of the Physics of Aquatic Systems Laboratory (APHYS) are to understand the physical processes in natural waters and the responses of aquatic systems to external forcing. The main focus is on anthropogenic influences, such as nutrients input, hydropower production, use of heat from natural waters, and cli-mate change. We study the effects on natural waters and their sensitivity to those drivers and outline consequences for water resources management.

Prof. Alfred Wüest is the chair of the Phys-ics of Aquatic Systems Laboratory (Mar-

garetha Kamprad Chair) at EPFL. He has more than 25 years of experience in fresh-

water system studies, with a focus on small-scale processes and on entire aquatic ecosystems. These two competences are highly relevant for the in-situ measurements (for both model and ground truth-ing), hydrodynamic modelling and the interpretation of the remote sensing information. His ecologically motivated research focused more on bulk constitu-ents, such as primary productivity, oxygen, nutrients and particles among others. In the last four years, we specifically developed our competences in integrat-ing our field measurements with remote sensing ob-servations. The SOLVE (SSO funded) and CORESIM (ESA funded) projects are led by his senior assistant Dr. Damien Bouffard at APHYS/EPFL.

Earth and Planetary Science Laboratory (EPSL)The Earth and Planetary Science Laboratory (EPSL) aims at un-derstanding how planetary bodies formed and evolved through the study of processes happening on surfaces, in mantles and in cores. Scientists in the group use various techniques of physics and chemistry to characterize the composition and behavior of planetary materials with application to planets (the Earth, Mars), moons (the Moon, icy satellites), and smaller objects (asteroids and meteorites). Analysis techniques range from large to very small scales with two main components topics that are remote sensing using space probes and high pressure experiments.

Philippe Gillet obtained in 1983 a PhD in Geophysics at Université de Paris VII. In 1988 he became a Professor at Université de Rennes I, which he left to join the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) de Lyon. He has been in France Director of the CNRS Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers, President of the synchrotron facility SOLEIL and of the National Research Agen-cy, and Director of ENS Lyon. Before joining EPFL as Vice-President for Academic Affairs he was the Chief of Staff of the French Minister of Higher Education and Research.His research focuses on experimental techniques to recreate in the lab the pressure and temperature prevailing deep inside planets. He also investigates extraterrestrial matter, describing meteorites coming from Mars, the Moon or asteroids.

Professor Philippe GilletDoctor Harold Clenet+41 21 693 44 14 - epsl.epfl.ch

Projects and funding• Remote sensing of planetary surfaces

• The lab is involved in the processing of hyperspectral images acquired with various space probes. It includes the calibration and georeferencing of images, and the production of derived products such as digital elevation models and compositional maps. Actual studies are focused on asteroid Vesta, Mars and the Moon.

• Study of meteorite samples• The lab has a strong background in analyzing extra-terrestrial material with multiple techniques, especial-

ly in geochemistry. Studied samples are coming mainly from Mars, asteroids, or fragments formed at the beginning of our Solar System.

• Earth observation from space• The lab is “Science Lead” in the phase 0 of the SOLVE mission (see previous page).• Co-Investigator on the CLUPI/ExoMars high resolution stereo camera• The lab is involved in one of the camera onboard the ExoMars rover that will be send to Mars in 2018.

• Other projects focus on the study of materials’ behavior using high pressure experiments:• Ices

• The lab has an experimental setup dedicated to the study of high pressure ices’ properties. Such phas-es could be found in icy satellites and exoplanets.

• Phases found in Earth deep interior• Main other activities of the lab focus on the study of minerals that are found in Earth’s mantle and core.

Available equipment:• Remote sensing of planetary surfaces

• Computer stations with processing software (IDL/ENVI, ArcMap, ISIS

• High-pressure experiments• Diamond anvil cells• Laser heating• Raman spectroscopy• High-pressure gas loading• Laser drilling

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Infrastructure

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eSpaceeSpace

Jean-Paul Kneib holds a Master in Space Sci-ence and a PhD in Astrophysics (1993). He has been working as a support astronomer, at ESO in Chile. He has conducted research in Gravitational Lens-ing and Cosmology in Cambridge (UK), Toulouse, Caltech and Marseille before coming to EPFL. He has worked with data coming from various space and ground based observatories, and participated in many space projects ideas (SNAP, JDEM, SPACE, OMEGA, CoWeX). He is currently strongly involved in the Euclid mission.

Laboratory of Astro-physics (LASTRO)

Infrastructure• As ESA member, Switzerland has access to scientific space observatories, including: the Hubble Space Tele-scope, the Spitzer Space Telescope, XMM-Newton and the Chandra X-ray observatory.• As ESO member, Switzerland has access to some of the most advanced ground-based facilities, including the four 8m VLTs and the ALMA radio interferometer, both in Chile.• Easy access of the SDSS dataset and in particular to the SDSS-III/BOSS and SDSS-IV/eBOSS experiments.• Shared access, with UniGE, to the Euler 1.2m Swiss Tel-escope at ESO La Silla, in Chile.• Use of local computing cluster at Sauverny Observatory, as well as the EPFL computing clusters.

Projects and funding• Mapping the redshift distribution of galaxies and quasars within the last 11 billion years of the Universe. The goal is to probe the accelerated expansion of the Universe and possibly give us ways to probe the nature of dark energy. The extended Baryonic Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) is the current cosmology project of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). eBOSS will measure the redshift of ~1.2 million galaxies and quasars by 2020. Future ground experiments such as DESI (for which fiber-positioner robots are developed with Prof. Hannes Bleuler), 4MOST and the Euclid space mission will map the 3D distribution of ~100 million galaxies.• Mapping the distribution of matter within the last 7 billions years of the Universe with imaging surveys. Dark matter is probed by using the gravitational lensing technique in both strong and weak lensing regimes. Gravita-tional lensing algorithm and softwares are key developments conducted at LASTRO. The 1.2m ESA Euclid and the NASA/ESA 6.5m James Webb Space Telescope will map the cosmic web with unprecedented accuracy, leading to major discoveries on the nature of dark matter, of gravitation on large scales, and on how galaxies form and evolve. Furthermore, the galaxy baryonic matter is probed by their stellar and gas content through multi-wavelength observations. These observations are informed by state of the art numerical simulations de-veloped at LASTRO.• Measuring the time delay between multiple quasars (or supernovae) is another independent probe of cosmol-ogy. This method is powerful to constrain the Hubble parameter, the curvature of space-time and dark energy. LASTRO leads COSMOGRAIL (COSmological MOnitoring of GRAvItational Lenses), a project measuring time delays for most known lensed quasars with the Swiss 1.2m Euler telescope and soon with the 3.5m ESO NTT.• Probing the first galaxies, which ended the dark ages. What is the nature of the first stars and the first galaxies? To address these questions, we identify the most remote faint galaxies magnified by cluster lenses, and we analyse the remnants of the first episodes of star formation in the Universe, in assessing the properties of the most ancient stars in the halo of our Galaxy and in the smallest galaxies known

LASTRO addresses fundamental questions regarding the dark sectors of the Universe as well as the formation and evolution of galaxies. These dark sectors include the study of dark matter, which accounts for most of the total mass of the Universe, and the elusive dark energy responsible for the observed accelerated expansion of the Universe. LASTRO also studies the early Uni-verse (first billion years), from the period known as the dark ages when the Universe was opaque to ultraviolet light, to the birth of the first stars and galaxies. Important physical processes such as: star formation fuelling and quenching, local environment and feedback drive or feedback processes drives the evolution of galaxies along cosmic times, and are studied as part as our research projects.

Professor Jean-Paul Kneib+41 22 379 24 73 - lastro.epfl.ch

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Geodetic Engineering Laboratory (TOPO)Position and attitude determination of moving platforms or subjects is the main-stream of the lab research activity. The expertise in algorithm development for real-time or post-mission positioning is applied to precise trajectory determina-tion of land or airborne vehicles and pedestrians. We make use of satellite based (GPS, Glonass, Galileo) positioning, inertial sensors, magnetic sensors, imagery and networked based positioning via Ultra-wide band or 802.x technology. Par-ticular focus is given to the following areas:• Navigation via radio signal and multi-path mitigation• Integration of satellite and inertial (GNSS/INS) data with other sensors • Error modelling and estimation methods

Mapping and remote sensing integrates themes from navigation, geodesy, pho-togrammetry, computer vision and system control. This field is truly interdiscipli-nary both in the conception and operation of mobile mapping platforms, as well as in the calibration of their sensors and data processing. Particular focus is in areas:• Composition of light-weight mapping systems and platforms (e.g. UAV)• Sensor synchronization and data acquisition• Calibration of active and passive optical sensors• Sensor orientation (direct and integrated)

Jan Skaloud graduated from the Czech Technical University in Prague with Dipl. Ing. degree and obtained his MSc and PhD from the University of Calgary, Canada in Geomatics Engineering. In 1999 he joined EPFL where he lectures for three distinct faculties at Master and PhD level. With his research groups he led European and industrial projects related to devel-opment of new methods with application of mobile mapping and Earth observations. Dr. Skaloud is a past and current Chair of Working Groups of the IAG and the ISPRS. He authored two book chapters and authored or co-authored over a hundred scientific publications. He realized a number of technological transfers to the industry and holds a patent related to a new method for geospatial data integration and adjustment. In 2009 he was recognized by the jour-nal GPS World as one of the 50 world’s most influen-tial scientists in the field of satellite navigation.

Professor Bertrand MerminodDoctor Jan Skaloud+41 21 693 27 53 - topo.epfl.ch

Projects and fundingThe EPFL-TOPO laboratory participated in numerous R&D and industrial projects at domestic and international levels related to development of airborne mapping platforms. TOPO has conceived the Scan2map - a unique real-time airborne mapping tool integrating laser scanning, imagery and inertial/GNSS technology to a port-able platform attachable to the side of a helicopter. Over last three years, EPFL-TOPO has integrated several sensors to a new multispectral and hyper spectral platform on board of Ultra Light Motorized aircraft (ULM) with which they carried number of remote sensing campaigns to diagnose the health of lake environments (The Leman-Baikal Project). More recently, EPFL-TOPO have participated in the accurate and safe EGNOS-SoL Navigation for UAVbased low-cost SAR operation; (CLOSE-SEARCH) FP-7 project where it developed redun-dant inertial platform (R-IMU) as well as new approach for establishing sensor models. Good part of the project focused on the reliability issues for safe navigation of UAVs. Currently EPFL-TOPO is a partner of H2020 project mapKITE that foster new mobile mapping paradigm through collaborative tandem between UAV and terrestri-al vehicle. EPFL-TOPO also collaborates with senseFly in advanced integration of navigation components for accurate mapping in challenging areas. EPFL-TOPO has developed several Micro-Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) with the capability of direct/integrated sensor orientation (2 multi-copters and 2 planes).

• High end GNSS receivers (multi frequency/constel-lation)

• High-end inertial sensors (navigation and tactical grade)

• Small MEMS inertial sensors with navigation perfor-mance

• Micro UAVs (3 copters, 2 planes) • Airborne mapping system (custom) • Airborne laser scanning

• Hyperspectral camera • Micro hyperspectral camera

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eSpaceeSpace

David Atienza is Associate Professor of EE and Director of the Embedded Sys-

tems Laboratory (ESL) at EPFL, Switzer-land. He received his PhD degree from UCM,

Spain, and IMEC, Belgium. His research interests focus on system-level and thermal-aware design for multi-processor system-on-chip computing systems (MPSoCs), including particularly low-power em-bedded systems and hardware-software co-design methods. In these fields, he has co-authored more than 200 publications in prestigious journals and conferences. He has received the IEEE Early Career Award in 2013, the ACM SIGDA Outstanding New Faculty Award (ONFA) in 2012, and several Best Pa-per Award at major international conferences. He is Distinguished Lecturer for IEEE CASS (period 2014-2015). He is a Senior Member of IEEE and ACM.

Embedded Systems Laboratory (ESL)

Infrastructure• Embedded systems assembly and testing laboratory• Embedded software development tools and real-time

debugging test benches• Thermal modeling and simulation frameworks for sys-

tem-on-chip processors• FPGA-based design and emulation setups for hard-

ware modules testing and software validation• Chip design flows in 90, 65, 40 and 28nm.

Projects and funding• NT RTD Project: “CMOSAIC: 3D Stacked Architectures with Interlayer Cooling”, where ESL developed a

compact transient thermal simulator and software to control the cooling of 3D-stacked computing architec-tures relying on single- and two-phase liquid cooling mechanisms.

• EU FP7 STREP Project: “PRO3D: Programming for Future 3D Architectures with Many Cores”, where ESL de-veloped thermal modeling and software-based temperature management aspects for 8-core USparc-based processor.

• Swiss NSF Project “DANES: Dynamically Adaptive Architectures for Nomadic Embedded Systems”, where ESL developed a new self-powered (super-capacitor based) embedded sensor for advance image pro-cessing.

• NT RTD Project: “BodyPoweredSenSE: Wearable ICT for Zero Power medical Application”, where ESL de-veloped an embedded systems (PCB design and software development) for real-time analysis of arrhyth-mias in multi-lead ECG.

• EU FP7 FET Project: “PHIDIAS: Ultra-Low-Power Holistic Design for Smart Biosignals Computing Platforms”, where EPFL developed a new ultra-low power MPSoC for EMG, ECG and EEG bio-signals in ambulatory conditions.

The Embedded Systems Laboratory (ESL) focuses on the defi-nition of system-level multi-objective design methods, optimiza-tion methodologies and tools for high-performance embedded systems and nano-scale Multi-Processor System-on-Chip (MP-SoC) architectures. The main research lines include the follow-ing topics:• Thermal and reliability exploration and management frame-

works for MPSoCs, both at microarchitectural and system level.

• System-level design and energy management approaches for embedded systems and especially wireless body sensor networks.

• Exploration of synergies between hardware and software components to exploit design trade-offs (area, performance, power) in MPSoC architectures.

• New software mapping techniques for memory hierar-chy, on-chip interconnects bandwidth maximization and low-power design in MPSoC platforms.

Professor David Atienza+41 21 693 11 32 - esl.epfl.ch

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Composite Con-struction Laboratory (CCLAB)The research mission of the Composite Construction Laboratory is to make significant contributions to the development of a new generation of innovative high-performance structural systems. Re-search interests are focused on composite or hybrid materials and engineering structures with an emphasis on lightweight structures and advanced composite materials. Current research at the CCLab focuses on six research axes:• Material-tailored structural concepts• Connection technologies• System safety• Multifunctionality• Long-term performance• Fatigue life predictionThe mission of the teaching activities is to provide an education of the highest quality to students in the fields of structural engineering and composite materials

Dr. Anastasios P. Vassilopoulos is a sen-ior research scientist at the Composite Construction Laboratory. Since 2006, togeth-er with the lab director, Prof. Thomas Keller, he is leading the activities of the laboratory in the field of strength and fatigue life prediction of composite ma-terials, adhesively bonded composite joints and FRP structures. Dr. Vassilopoulos has been participated in the research teams of numerous National and In-ternational research projects, mainly in the fields of wind turbine rotor blade design, all FRP structures in engineering applications, life prediction of com-posite materials and structures. He is active in the scientific community by participating in committees, expert panels etc. Dr. Anastasios P. Vassilopoulos

+41 21 693 63 93 - cclab.epfl.ch

Projects and fundingCCLab performs high level research dealing with specific highly innovative topics in the field of fatigue and damage progression during fatigue loading of engineering structures. A list of current research project is given below:• Progressive fatigue damage modeling of fiber-reinforced polymer structural assemblies (NSF)

• Development of a universal progressive damage methodology able to predict the damage accumula-tion and the remaining fatigue life of adhesively bonded assemblies made of FRP/FRP or FRP with oth-er materials, e.g., with Balsa wood or PET cores in sandwich panels under spectrum loading patterns.

• Probabilistic Analysis of Structural Behavior of Timber (NSF-NRP66)• Development of new size effect models for timber (can be adapted for composite materials strength

prediction) based on measurements of the random spatial variability in the mechanical properties • Ductility in adhesively bonded timber joints and structures (NSF-NRP66)

• Investigation of ductility and recovery characteristics of adhesives in adhesively bonded joints. • Time-dependent mechanical and structural response of polymer-matrix composites under elevated tem-

peratures (NSF)• Experimental investigation and modeling of the time dependent mechanical behavior of glass fiber

reinfo1rced polymers (GFRP) under compression loading at elevated and high temperatures.

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uresInfrastructure

• Servo hydraulic testing frames for the mechanical characterization of small scale specimen specimens to full scale (up to 30 m) components.

• Contactless, optical, and embedded measuring sys-tems.

• Environmental chambers for experimental investi-gations under thermomechanical loads at tempera-tures from -196°C to 350°C.

• In-house developed software tools for virtual testing and fatigue life assessment of composite structural components.

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Applied Computing and Mechanics

Laboratory (IMAC)

Ian Smith is a full professor in the Civil Engineering Institute in the School of Ar-chitecture, Civil and Environmental En-

gineering. He did his engineering degree at the University of Waterloo, Canada and

completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1982. He has been involved in three EPFL laborato-ries, working on active structures, measurement sys-tems, fatigue and fracture mechanics and applied computing, often in collaboration with industry. He was elected to the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences in 2004 and received the Computing in Civ-il Engineering Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2005. In 2011, he was nominated an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, USA. In 2010, he started research in Singapore as a Principal Investigator in the SEC Future Cities Labo-ratory. This collaboration is continuing in a second phase of research (2015-2020) in the area of sensed civil infrastructure.

Projects and fundingProjects are currently being funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Singapore ETH Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability. Activities fall under the following themes:

• Active and intelligent structures • Keywords : tensegrity structures, deployability, biomimetic structures, self-diagnosis, self-repair, compu-

tational control, learning, damage tolerance

• Infrastructure monitoring, diagnosis and prediction • Keywords : data mining, advanced user interfaces, robust structural identification, multi-model diag-

nostic reasoning, probabilistic model falsification, model-class search, improving simulations through measurement

The mission of IMAC is to take advantage of multi-disciplinary synergies in order to study the real behavior large civil-engi-neering structures. We maintain competence in structural me-chanics, dynamics, measurement of full-scale structures, optics, materials science and information technology. Comparison of data obtained from measurement systems with theory improves development of appropriate predictive models. Finally, applica-tion of information technology has been shown to facilitate data management, structural control and decision support.

Professor Ian Smith+41 21 693 52 42 - imac.epfl.ch

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• High load motors for structural deployment • Camera tracking system• Ten-channel closed loop deployment controller

Laboratory for Me-chanical Metallurgy (LMM)Research at the Laboratory for Mechanical Metallurgy adress-es the science and engineering of structural metallic materials, with particular focus on advanced metallic materials. It spans the spectrum from materials processing to the exploration of links between the microstructure and the mechanical or physical properties of metallic materials, generally but not only destined for structural applications.

Professor Andreas MortensenDoctor Ludger Weber+41 21 693 29 15 - lmm.epfl.ch

Projects and fundingAn exploration of the intrinsic strength of hard second phases in alloys and metal matrix composites;• Metal infiltration processing, with a current thrust on capillary phenomena;

• “Microcasting”, ie the extension of foundry processing to µm-sized metal components and the plasticity size effect;

• Processing/structure/mechanical property relations in metallic materials produced by solid freeform man-ufacturing

• The processing and optimisation of metal matrix composites for thermal management applications; • The deformation of high fraction ceramic particle reinforced metals under elevated triaxial stress;• The measurement and physic of electron/phonon interfacial thermal resistance;• A collaboration with the University of Tokyo on the processing and properties of metallic multilaminates

• Thermo-mechanical testing• Physical property measurement• Material processing

More details at: http://lmm.epfl.ch/page-26913-en.html

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full professor at EPFL, directing LMM. He was dean of doctor-

al studies for EPFL from 2000 to 2005, director of EPFL’s Institute of

Materials from 2006 to 2012, EPFL’s dean of research from Sept. to Dec. 2014 and is since Jan. 2015, EP-FL’s vice-provost for research. Prior to joining EPFL in 1997, he was postdoctoral researcher at Nippon Steel in 1986 and from 1986 to 1996, he was an assis-tant professor, associate professor and then full pro-fessor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of MIT. Ludger Weber (right) holds a materials science and Ph.D. degree from ETH Zurich. In 1997 he joined his current lab and became senior scientist in 2014. His specialisation is in electrical and thermophysical properties as well as design of metals and compos-ites.

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Tobias J. Kippenberg is ordinary Pro-fessor since 2013 in the Institute of Con-densed Matter Physics and EE at EPFL

in Switzerland. He joined EPFL in 2008 as Tenure Track Assistant Professor. Prior

to EPFL he was Independent Max Planck Junior Re-search group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching in the Division of T.W. Haensch. He obtained his BA at the RWTH Aachen in 1998, his PhD at Caltech in 2004 and Habilitation in Physics at the LMU Munich in 2009. His research encompasses the fields of Cavity Quan-tum Optomechanics and Optical Frequency Combs. For his early contributions to these fields he was re-cipient of the EFTF Award for Young Scientists (2011), The Helmholtz Prize in Metrology (2009), EPS Fresnel Prize (2009) and ICO Award (2014), and the Swiss Latsis Prize (2015). He was also the 1st prize recip-ient of the “8th European Union Contest for Young Scientists” in 1996.

Laboratory of Pho-tonics and Quan-

tum Measurements (LPQM)

Infrastructure• Access to 20 Million € state of the art nanofabrication

facility (with an annual operating budget of ca. 2 Mio €)• Two dedicated optics laboratories of 70 m2 and 110 m2

respectively• High end optical and RF-measurement equipment• Several Laser sources, frequency metrology and ampli-

fiers such as:• Thulium Fiber Laser Module (λ = 1.9 µm, P = 5 W)• Koheras fiber laser (λ = 1.55 µm, 10 kHz linewidth)• Menlo Systems Frequency Comb (fcenter =1.5 µm,

250 MHz repetition rate) • 2 EDFA at 1550 nm: output 10 W, OPO at 2.5 µm: 1 W

Projects and fundingBy coupling light of a single frequency laser into a micrometer sized resonator fabricated out of a nonlinear ma-terial several laser lines can be generated. When these laser lines are equidistant in frequency they constitute a frequency comb. Microresonator based frequency combs are also of special interest to space applications. They can serve to calibrate spectrometers, they can be used as a spectrometer and can equally be used to create low phase noise microwave oscillators, which are widely used in Radar, Timing and Navigation. Their compact size factor makes them portable and very interesting for space applications.

Ongoing and granted funding related to SiN photonic integrated circuits:• FP7 Marie Curie SOLICOMB: Optical-transition clocks with micro-fabricated frequency combs for perfor-

mance beyond the standard quantum limit • ESA TRP Silicon Nitride Optical Microresonators: space compatibility of SiN microresonators• DARPA PULSE Menlo: Low noise microwave generation using microresonators• DARPA PULSE Cornell: Chip scale frequency combs for MidIR• DARPA DODOS: Chip scale Optical Resonator Enabled Synthesizer• AFSOR: Exploring Soliton Physics in Optical Microresonators• EPFL Marie Curie Cofund: Solitons in Silicon Nitride• DARPA-SCOUT-Columbia-Silicon-CHIP: Chip based optical frequency combs around 3um• ESA-FGU, CSEM Neuchatel: Micro-Optoelectronic Frequency Generation• Hasler Foundation: Chip based optical frequency combs for optical telecommunications

The Laboratory of Photonics and Quantum Measurements (LPQM), led by Full Professor Dr. Tobias J. Kippenberg, was founded in September 2005 and has since built up major experi-ence in the field of cavity optomechanics and optical frequency comb metrology. The laboratory has been among the first to de-vote its research to this subject, which by now has become an entire research field in itself. Many of the results published by the laboratory are by now widely cited papers, which has given the laboratory an international reputation.

Professor Tobias J. Kippenberg +41 21 693 44 28 - k-lab.epfl.ch

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Microsystems for Space Technologies Laboratory (LMTS)

We develop reliable soft sensors, actuators and transducers for use on Earth as well as in Space. Our research activities cut across different MEMS and miniaturized actuator technologies, with a primary focus on elastomer-based solutions and mul-ti-functional stretchable materials.

Herbert Shea is a professor at the EPFL in Switzerland since 2004, leading a team of over a dozen scientists. After receiving a Ph.D. (1997) in physics at Harvard University, Herb spent 2 years a post-doctoral fellow at IBM’s T.J. Watson Research Center, working on carbon nanotube electronics, and then joined Lucent Technologies’ Bell Labs, becoming the technical manager of the Microsystems Technology group. In 2004 Herb founded the Microsystems for Space Technologies Laboratory (LMTS) at the EPFL. He is also the direc-tor of the EPFL Space Engineering Center (eSpace) and director of teaching in the section de Micro-technique

Professor Herbert Shea+41 21 693 66 63 - lmts.epfl.ch

Projects and funding• Miniaturized polymer actuators and transducers for a broad range of applications including biology, soft

robotics, RF tuning, microfluidics and tunable optics. We are leaders in the field of dielectric elastomer actu-ators, and have unique expertise in fabrication, modeling and design for silicone-based devices.

• Haptic displays for the visually impaired and for sighted users, based on shape memory polymers and electromagnetic actuation, allowing graphical information such as maps to be explored by sense of touch.

• Electric micro-propulsion for small spacecraft, making highly efficient yet compact ion sources enabling new missions for microsatellites.

The LMTS operates a cleanroom dedicated to processing elastomers, printing flexible electronics, and large-area ad-ditive manufacturing. We have extensive characterization tools to measure mechanical and electrical properties of elastomers as well as a full suite of equipment to character-ize MEMS devices. This equipment is available to the EPFL community when not in use by the LMTS.

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Interdisciplinary Aer-odynamics Group

(IAG)

Dr. Pénélope Leyland has been working on aero-space projects for the last 35 years. She is the author of over two hundred papers in journals and dedicat-ed conferences.

Projects and funding• CTI - Synergy Energy-Space• ESA - Ablation and Radiation in Presence of Light Ablators• ESA - Ablation Radiation Coupling• ESA - Multidisciplinary Approach to Design for Demise• CTI - Aerodynamic Optimisation of Novel Valve Concept• FP7 - Uncertainty Management for Robust Industrial Design in Aerodynamics (UMRIDA)• SNSF - Hybrid Approach to Radiation-Ablation Coupling• Various - Plasma Actuators for Flow Control and Combustion

The Interdisciplinary Aerodynamics Group (IAG) is a multidisci-plinary research group within the Institute of Mechanical Engi-neering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne. It is involved in a wide range of basic and applied research in computational and experimental engineering, with an empha-sis on aerospace and aeronautics. Recent research focuses on analysis of aerothermodynamic loads on thermal protection systems during hypersonic spacecraft (re-)entry and space de-bris as well as plasma actuators for low speed flow control. The group works in close collaboration with Swiss Plasma Centre, Materials Institute and Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering as well as European research institutes (ESA, Onera, TAS-I). Teaching is also performed within the European Master of Space Transportation Systems.

Doctor Pénélope Leyland+41 21 693 38 57 - iag.epfl.chM

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Infrastructure• Shock tube• Low speed wind tunnel• High non-eq cold plasma (CRPP)• High flux solar simulator (LRESE)• PSI/Tomo• Material characterisation (TIC)• Bellatrix supercomputing cluster

Computational Math-ematics and Simula-tion Science (MCSS)The Chair of Computational Mathematics and Simulation Science (MCSS) focuses on the development, analysis and application of accurate computational methods for time-dependent differential equations. This includes research activities in discontinuous Galer-kin and spectral methods, certificed reduced basis methods, meth-ods of uncertainty quantification, methods for multiscale problems in time and space, and fractional differential equations.

While the emphasis in on the development and analysis of new methods, the research is application driven and we generally main-tain a strong focus on tying the theoretical developments to real applications, ranging from electromagnetics and plasma physics to geoscience and cosmology.

After receiving his PhD in 1995 from the Technical University of Denmark, Professor Hesthaven joined Brown University, USA where he became Professor of Applied Mathematics in 2005. In 2013 he joined EPFL as Chair of Computational Mathematics and Simulation Science. His research interests are in the development, analysis, and appli-cation of high-order accurate methods for the solution of complex time-dependent problems, often requiring high-performance computing. A particular focus of his research has been the development of computation-al methods for problems of electromagnetics, includ-ing high-order methods for scattering, reduced basis methods and uncertainty quantification.

Professor Jan S. Hesthaven+41 21 693 03 51 - mcss.epfl.ch

Projects and funding• The need to model complex phenomena in real- or near real-time penetrates applications in control, pa-

rameter estimation, design and optimization across the sciences and engineering. To enable this for com-plex systems, we work on the development of accurate models of reduced complexity, obtained without impacting the overall predictive accuracy of the model. The reduced models can be based on computa-tional models, available data or a combination of these.

• The simulation of complex phenomena can not be achieved in a pure deterministic manner due to a lack of accurate and timely information about parameters, external sources etc. The development of compu-tational tools that enables the quantification of the impact of such uncertainty on the predictive quality of models has been a research topic of interest for a decade. This involves both uncertainty quantification by forward modeling as well as uncertainty management by data fusion.

• Many of the fundamental aspects of our work is combined in trajectory modeling and prediction, with possible extensions to trajectory control and object identification under uncertainty. Other related activities relate to fractional models to model trajectory dependent properties such as drag.

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Infrastructure• Access to local computational resources as well as

EPFL and national resources for large scale compu-tational needs.

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Sophia Haussener is an Assistant Pro-fessor heading the Laboratory of Renewa-

ble Energy Science and Engineering at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

(EPFL). Her current research is focused on providing design guidelines for thermal, thermochemical, and photoelectrochemical energy conversion reactors through multi-physics modelling and experimenta-tion. Her research interests include: thermal sciences, fluid dynamics, charge transfer, electro-magnetism, and thermo/electro/photochemistry in complex multi-phase media on multiple scales. She received her MSc (2007) and PhD (2010) in Mechanical En-gineering from ETH Zurich, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Joint Center of Artificial Photosyn-thesis (JCAP) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between 2011 and 2012.

Laboratory of Renew-able Energy Science

and Engineering (LRESE)

InfrastructureHigh flux solar simulator: providing a concentrated, ener-gy-dens flux of radiation (peak flux above 25 MW/m2) in a large focal area (diameter: > 5cm; overall power >22 kW). The flux and power are continuously variable up to the peak values. Suitable for material testing under high flux and high temperature conditions as experienced in re-en-try situations.

Projects and funding• Testing, characterization, and modeling of thermal protection systems:

• In-situ testing and characterization of ablation and insulating materials using radiography and tomogra-phy techniques

• Development of kinetic models for ablation materials• Coupled experimental-numerical techniques for the morphological and transport characterization in abla-

tion and insulation materials• Material testing in our high flux solar simulator

The research at LRESE aims at developing efficient, economic, sustainable, and robust conversion and storage approaches of renewable energies in fuels, chemical commodities, and power. We specifically focus on the conversion of solar energy into fuels through i) high temperature solar thermochemical approach-es, and ii) low temperature photoelectrochemical approaches. Fundamental for these investigations are thermal sciences, fluid dynamics, electro-magnetism, and thermo/electro/photochem-istry in complex multi-phase/multi-component media on multi-ple scales. LRESE proposes novel and sustainable energy conversion and storage processes, studies their efficiency and potential, and experimentally demonstrates them. Further, we design and op-timize materials, devices, and reactors used for these process-es by developing multi-physics numerical models on mutliple scales and advanced experiments in challenging environments. LRESE utilizes it competences in coupled multiphysics and mul-tiscale applications in interdisciplinary projects in the area of en-vironmental and medical science, and aerospace applications.

Professor Sophia Haussener+41 21 693 38 78 - lrese.epfl.ch

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Ambrogio Fasoli (left) is Pro-fessor at EPFL and Director of the Swiss Plasma Center. He

is a world-renowned scientist with expertise ranging from nuclear

fusion science and technology to space and astro-physical plasmas. He is fellow of the American Phys-ical Society and Editor of Nuclear Fusion.

Ivo Furno (right) is M.E.R. at EPFL and Group leader of the Basic Plasma Physics and Application group at SPC. He has more than 15 year of experience in ex-perimental plasma physics of relevance for nuclear fusion, space and astrophysics. He published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in international jour-nals. He is fellow of the American Physical Society.

Swiss Plasma Center (SPC)Founded in 1961, the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC - previously CRPP) is the only research centre in Switzerland that is focused on basic plasma physics, fusion science and technology, and industrial applications. The SPC is part of the Ecole Polytech-nique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) and has a long tradition in education and training at undergraduate, graduate as well as postgraduate level. The SPC contributes to advancing basic plasma physics of interest for fusion and for space and astrophysical plasmas, as well as for developing industrial plasma applications covering a wide range, from solar cells to packaging industry to aircraft and sat-ellite technology.

Professor Ambrogio FasoliDoctor Ivo Furno+41 21 693 19 07 - spc.epfl.ch

Projects and funding• Development and basic studies of novel concepts for helicon thrusters for space propulsion.• Experimental and simulation/numerical studies of satellite slip-ring vacuum breakdown.• Low pressure plasma spraying for high power plasma for thermal testing, surface treatment, and fast coat-

ing of surfaces.

• The TORPEX (TORoidal Plasma EXperiment) device pro-duces low plasma densities and temperatures, and al-lows in situ high-resolution measurements of plasma pa-rameters and perturbed fields. TORPEX is one of the few specialized devices in Europe that can provide significant contribution to basic plasma physics of interest for fusion, space and astrophysical plasmas.

• A plasma torch for low pressure plasma spraying gener-ates high power plasma for thermal testing, surface treat-ment, and fast coating.

• Plasma reactors and diagnostics for high deposition rates for plasma coating. A novel design for inductive, large area plasma sources uses cylindrical or flat antennas for volume or surface treatment industrial applications.

• Vacuum chambers and diagnostics for fundamental stud-ies of discharge physics in satellites, in particular the prob-lem of arcing and parasitic discharges, including numeri-cal simulation of electrical breakdown.

• The RAID (Resonant Antenna Ion Device) is a flexible de-vice that produces helicon plasmas in different gases and with a variety of magnetic field configurations. This device is used to study new concepts of ion thrusters for plasma propulsion as well as the fundamental physics of helicon wave propagation and plasma heating.

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BioroboticsLaboratory (BIOROB)

Auke Ijspeert is an associate professor at the EPFL, and head of the Biorobotics Laboratory (Bi-oRob). He has a BSc/MSc in Physics from the EPFL, and a PhD in artificial intelligence from the University of Edinburgh. He carried out postdocs at IDSIA and EPFL,, and at the University of Southern California (USC). He then became a research assistant pro-fessor at USC, and an external collaborator at ATR (Advanced Telecommunications Research institute) in Japan. In 2002, he came back to the EPFL first as a SNF assistant professor, and since October 2009 as an associate professor.

Infrastructure• Tracking system (OptiTrack, 14 infrared cameras

S250e)• Treadmill (ForceLink)• Force plates (2 Kistler Type 9260AA3)• Swimming pool with custom made tracking system• Workshop with CNC (3 axis Isel iCV4030) and lathe

(manual)• Cluster farm (76 Xeon Processors 4 or 8 cores )• Various robots: snake robots, salamander-like robots,

quadruped robots, humanoid robots and self-reconfig-urable robots

Projects and fundingOur research interests are at the intersection between robotics, computational neuroscience, nonlinear dy-namical systems, and machine learning. We carry out research projects in the following areas: numerical sim-ulations of locomotion and movement control, systems of coupled nonlinear oscillators for locomotion control, adaptive dynamical systems, design and control of amphibious articulated robots, control of humanoid robots, design and control of reconfigurable robots. List of research projects potentially relevant to space:• Self-reconfigurable modular robots Roombots (Current funding: SNSF, Before: NCCR Robotics)

• This project explores the design and control of modular robots, called Roombots, to be used as building blocks for furniture that moves, self-assembles, and self-reconfigures.

• Lola-OP snake robot (Funding: EPFL)• Modular Snake Robot open platform to study serpentine locomotion in various environments.

• Pleurobot (Current funding: NCCR Robotics)• Salamander-like robot making use of the recent advances in cine-radiography to benefit from the advan-

tages that a biomimetic design can offer. • Salamandra robotica II (Current funding: EPFL, Before: EU project LAMPETRA)

• The new generation of our amphibious salamander-like robot equipped with foldable limbs, and em-barking more powerful micro-controllers that allow distributed computation of our models of spinal cord neural networks as well as the simulation of muscle properties.

• Cheetah-Cub - a compliant quadruped robot (Current funding: EPFL, Before: EU project AMARSi)• A novel compliant quadruped robot that is the fastest running quadruped legged robot under 30kg.

The Biorobotics Laboratory (BioRob in short) is part of the Insti-tute of Bioengineering in the School of Engineering at the EPFL. We work on the computational aspects of movement control, sensorimotor coordination, and learning in animals and in ro-bots. We are interested in using robots and numerical simulation to study the neural mechanisms underlying movement control and learning in animals, and in return to take inspiration from an-imals to design new control methods for robotics as well as nov-el robots capable of agile locomotion in complex environments

Professor Auke Ijspeert+41 21 693 26 58 - biorob.epfl.ch

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Laboratory for Ap-plied Mechanical Design (LAMD)Research at the LAMD is focused on the design and experimen-tal investigation of small scale turbomachinery for decentralized energy conversion. Typical applications range from small scale gas turbines, compressors for domestic heat pumps to high speed expanders for waste heat recovery using Organic Rank-ine Cycles. Particular emphasis is given to the domestic and the transportation sector. Scaling laws for turbomachinery dictate increasingly small tip diameters and rising rotational speeds while lowering conversion powers. Hence, key research activi-ties include thorough theoretical and experimental study of high-speed bearing technologies and their effect on dynamic rotor be-havior. A particular emphasis is put on dynamic, gas lubricated bearing technologies. Furthermore the laboratory specializes in integrated mechanical design and optimization methodologies.The LAMD seeks strong ties with industry as well as with other academic institutions connecting its research with “real world” problems through collaborative projects.

After obtaining his diploma in mechanical engineering from EPFL in 1999 Dr. Schiff-mann co-founded a start-up company dedicated to the design of gas-lubricated bearings. In 2005 he joined Fischer Engineering Solutions where he led the development of small scale, high-speed turbomachinery. In parallel he worked on his PhD, which he obtained from EPFL in 2008. He then joined the Gas Turbine Lab at MIT as a postdoctor-al associate where he worked on foil bearings and small-scale gas-turbine engines. He was nominated assistant professor tenure track at the Ecole Poly-technique Fédérale de Lausanne in 2013.

Professor Jürg Schiffmann+41 21 695 45 13 - lamd.epfl.ch

Projects and funding• Bottleneck for the breakthrough of decentralized power conversion based on tubomachinery is the lack of

well understood small-scale turbomachinery equipment. Ongoing research at LAMD addresses these long standing challenges related to the design of high-speed turbomachinery which are (1) the appropriate de-sign and choice of journal bearing technology, (2) efficient sealing technology, (3) the proper consideration of scaling issues on the aerodynamic turbomachinery design and (4) the efficient use of integrated design methodologies.

• The main objective is a proven and validated tool dedicated to the integrated design and optimization of small-scale turbomachinery supported on gas-lubricated bearings for decentralized power conversion sys-tems.

• In parallel to these more fundamental research topics LAMD also develops gas-bearing supported turbo-compressors for multi-stage, high-temperature lift heat pumps, oil-free radial turbines for Organic Rankine cycles for waste heat recovery and is investigating the feasibility of closed loop CO2 Brayton cycles for high power density and small-scale power generation systems.

• Turbine characterization rig (pressure, temperature, mass-flow measurements)

• Gas-bearing characterization rig (displacement meas-urements, excitation devices)

• Oil-free heat pump cycle• Oil-free ORC test-rig• Assembly and high-precision balancing capability

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Aude Billard is Professor of Micro and Mechanical Engineering, and the head of the LASA Laboratory at the School of

Engineering at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. She received a

M.Sc. in Physics from EPFL (1995), a MSc. in Knowl-edge-based Systems (1996) and a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence (1998) from the University of Edinburgh. She was the recipient of the Intel Corporation Teach-ing award, the Swiss National Science Foundation career award in 2002 and the Outstanding Young Person in Science and Innovation from the Swiss Chamber of Commerce. She was a keynote speaker at several international conferences and symposi-ums, including the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation and IEEE-RAS Internation-al Symposium on Human-Robot Interactions. Her re-search was featured in premier venues (BBC, IEEE Spectrum) and received best paper awards at major robotics conferences and journals.

Learning Algorithms and Systems Labora-

tory (LASA)

InfrastructureLASA has seven industrial robotic arms, including the latest standards in industrial robotic arms with the KUKA Light Weight Arm (LWR and iiwa). The arms are mount-ed with traditional industrial 3 fingers grippers or with the most advanced hands, including the 16 degrees of freedom humanoid hand from Simlab. LASA has at its disposal a variety of commercial and prototypes sen-sors to detect tactile information which can be mounted on the robotic arms and hands. Vision is provided from a 18-camera set-up from Optitrack, providing tracking of objects at 250Hz. Additionally, a series of Kinect and standard RGB cameras are used on-board the robots or for dedicated purposes. Finally, LASA facilities include full body humanoid robots to study bimanual coordina-tion and navigation.

Projects and funding• LASA’s current projects encompass the development of algorithms to learn manipulation skills from hu-

man demonstration, multi-modal processing of tactile, visual and proprioceptive information to control an-thropomorphic robotic hands, analysis of EMG information for shared control of prostheses, theoretical advances in non-linear and compliant control for on-line re-planning of robot motion and flexible and safe human-robot interaction.

• LASA receives funding from both private and public sectors. Public funding comes primarily from the Euro-pean Commission, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Commission for Technology and Innova-tion.

The Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory (LASA) has a 20 years expertise at developing robust and adaptive control architectures to realize skilful robot motions. Research at LASA combines advanced techniques in control, optimization, ma-chine learning and computer vision for the development of highly reactive robots and to the design of new human-robot interfaces. Applications range from factory settings in which robots share space with human employees, design of shared controllers for semi-autonomous cars, prosthesis and to development of per-sonal robotic system for educational and therapeutic purpose.

Professor Aude Billard+41 21 693 54 64 - lasa.epfl.ch

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Robotics Systems Laboratory (LSRO)Robotic Systems Lab is interested in design and realization of advanced robotics hardware, mainly in the fields of industrial, ultra-precision and medical robotics. The lab has world-wide visibility thanks to the delta robot (now public domain and very widely produced) invented by its former director, Reymond Clav-el. We are specialists in ultra-precision robotics (gravity balance and light trap for Cesium atomic clock built for METAS, the Swiss Office of Standards and Metrology), many projects in exoskele-tons, surgery and rehabilitation robotics, tele-manipulators , as well as parallel kinematic mechanisms, haptic man-machine interface, contact-free magnetic bearings, electrostatic motors and piezo electric devices.

Hannes Bleuler has studied electrical engineering at ETH Zurich and made his PhD thesis there on contact-free mag-netic bearings. He has worked in Japan (Hitachi), participated in the creation of startup companies (Mecos Traxler AG Winter-thur, still active now within the group MAN Tur-bomachines in Zurich for contact-free large industri-al equipment as well as for turbo-molecular pumps for high vacuum and other equipment. He has been lecturer at ETH Zurich and Associate Professor at The University of Tokyo. He is at LSRO-EPFL since 1995 and has taken over the lab direction at the retirement of Prof. Reymond Clavel in 2013. He is now mainly active in biomedical robotics, telemean-ipulators, exoskeletons and haptic devices, but continues to be interested in “exotic” mechatronic devices such as diamagnetic levitation and electro-static motors.

Professor Hannes Bleuler+41 21 693 59 27 - lsro.epfl.ch

Projects and fundingThe delta robot kinematics is (among many other applications) commercialized (by Force Dimension SA) as a high-end haptic tele manipulator and has successfully been tested by NASA on a zero-gravity flight (see infor-mation by Force Dimension SA). Other projects potentially relevant for space application include sophisticated ultra-precision devices based on flexure hinges and parallel kinematics used for telescopes (Differential Delay Line for the European Southern Observatory, “PRIMA DDL project”, robots for micrometer positioning of optical fibers for massively parallel spectral analysis in astronomy (Focal Plain positioning System http://desi.lbl.gov/ together with the Lab for Astrophysics, Prof. Jean-Paul Kneib) and other similar projects, ultra-precision gravity Balance for METAS in Berne, all kinds of haptic human-robot interfaces for rehabilitation, human assistance (exoskeletons), tele manipulators. Other projects near space application include contact-free magnetic levita-tion, diamagnetic levitation, very fast rotors (3 mil rpm, thesis Alexis Boletis), electrostatic drives (used for a laser light trap in a continuous fountain Cesium atomic clock, also for METAS, in collaboration with the metrology lab of the Neuchâtel observatory. The contact-free levitation combined with the electrostatic motor seems to have high potential for a space compatible momentum wheel for small or very small satellites.LSRO has also a very active group in mobile and educational robotics, contact to educational institutions and experience in PR to the broad public (former organizer of the Robotics Festival of EPFL with up to 15’000 or more visitors).

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Prof. Joseph Sifakis is recognized for his pi-oneering work on embedded system design and verification. He is a receipient of the 2007 Turing Award for his contribution to the emergence of the area of model-checking, currently the most wide-ly used verification method in industry. His current research focuses on rigorous system design and correct-by-construction techniques. Prof. Sifakis has a broad industry experience, notably though partic-ipation in a large number of industrial projects and consulting.

Rigorous System Design Laboratory

(RISD)

Infrastructure• Usual infrastructure of a software lab.

Projects and fundingBIP has been used in the following projects:• CSSP (ESA AO/1-7785) — designing a framework encompassing a consistent minimal set of formalisms

and languages for the property specification and formal modelling of the Software System elements to perform verification of on-board software.

• ASCENS (FP7 IST-257414) — combining the maturity of traditional software engineering approaches with the guarantees provided by formal methods and the flexibility and resource optimality of adaptive systems.

• CERTAINTY (FP7 IST-288175) — certification process for mixed criticality embedded systems featuring functions dependent on information of varying confidence.

• PRO3D (FP7 IST-248776) — developing a holistic system design methodology to bring a drastic improve-ment of productivity to reduce cost development and time to market for future embedded computing.

• ACROSS (ARTEMIS-2009-1-100208) — developing and implementing ARTEMIS cross-domain reference ar-chitecture for embedded systems based on the architecture blueprint from the FP7 project GENESYS.

• UltraSoundToGo (Nano-Tera.ch) — design of provably correct software for a portable in-the-field device for 3D ultrasound imaging, comparable to static systems in terms of image quality.

RiSD has strong experience in verification and correct-ness-by-construction techniques for safety- and mixed-critical embedded software. In collaboration with Verimag (France), RiSD is developing the BIP framework for the component-based design and analysis of such systems. Safety analysis is possible due to the fact that BIP has formal operational semantics defined in terms of finite state automata and connectors enforcing syn-chronisation constraints on these automata. The BIP modelling concepts are implemented in a simple, intuitive language, from which functionally equivalent executable C++ code is automati-cally generated.

Professor Joseph Sifakis+41 21 693 13 98 - risd.epfl.ch

Softw

are

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eSpaceeSpace eSpace

How to collaborate?

• Consulting• Services

• Fabrication in EPFL workshops• Access to infrastructure and test facilities

• Industrial research contracts

Expertise and consulting

• Guest lecturing at EPFL• Student exchanges

• Send or receive master or PhD students• EPFL Space summer camp

• organised by the Swiss Space Center, with technical support from eSpace

Education

• International• European

• Horizon 2020• European Space Agency• SME Instruments

• National (Swiss)• Swiss National Science Foundation• Commission for Technology and Innovation

Collaborative projectsEuropean

National

Other

Funding sources

Both the Space Engineering Center and individual EPFL lab-oratories can apply to funding through collaborative projects. The list below describes just some of the sources that can be accessed to facilitate collaboration.The EPFL research office (research-office.epfl.ch/funding) summarizes well the available sources.

Horizon 2020 (ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/): In the pillars Industrial Leadership (which includes Space) and So-cietal Challenges, Switzerland is considered a third country in 2016. Thus the Swiss contribution is paid directly by the Swiss government and not included in the proposal total.

European Space Agency (emits.esa.int): Switzerland is one of the founding members of ESA and, with 135 M€ in 2015, one of the larger contributor. EPFL can apply to all ESA programs (TRP, GSP, GSTP, ARTES, PRODEX).

Swiss National Science Foundation (snf.ch): Several programs exist which include funding for research in Switzerland or Swiss researchers abroad. The budget for SNSF in 2014 approached 1 Billion CHF.

Commission for Technology and Innovation (kti.admin.ch): Funding for a Swiss research institution co-funded by a Swiss company.

Call for Ideas (CFI) and Mesures de Positionnement (MdP) (space.epfl.ch): The Swiss Space Office, through the Swiss Space Center, established several programs to jumpstart low-TRL R&D. Currently, 10 activities are funded at a rate of 250 kCHF each in the MdP program, with a new round to be pub-lished in early 2016. The CFI supports short term studies (up to 6 months) with funding up to 20 kCHF.

American funding (Grants.gov): EPFL, as well as many other European entities can apply to US federal funding.

Bi-lateral agreements and local funding exist for several foreign entities who wish to work with Switzerland. More information can be provided on request.

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Contact informationEPFL Space Engineering Center EPFL-ENT-ESCStation 13CH-1015 LausanneTel: +41 (0) 21 693 6948Fax: +41 (0) 21 693 6940eSpace@epfl.cheSpace.epfl.chfacebook.com/epflSpace

Image: MSG-4 SEVIRI, (C) Meteosat-11