Pioneering Antenna Systems: A Case Study of Dr. Aakash Bansal’s Collaboration with the Satellite Applications Catapult
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From PhD to Practical Innovation
Dr. Aakash Bansal’s journey began with a simple application to SPIN programme, which led to an exciting secondment opportunity. SAC offered him an opportunity to work full-time on a secondment with Future Systems Team in CTO department. He was tasked to develop cost effective antenna systems, with applications for ONEWEB hybrid PNT solutions for terrestrial applications with novel signal handover algorithms.
This technology, if successful, could help fast-moving objects like vehicles, planes, and ships connect with the world through Low-Earth Orbit satellites that are continuously moving. During this 4-month period, Dr Aakash Bansal worked closely with SAC’s Senior System Architect and his team to develop the idea, test the system in simulations, build a prototype, and validate the results. As part of his secondment, he was continuously encouraged to get involved in meetings with several new UK startups and companies, gaining a new perspective on the space industry in the UK and Europe. In his own words “The experience at SAC defined my research area and increased my passion for satellite communications and sensing further.”
Knowledge Exchange and Career Support
SAC supported Dr Bansal’s career with letters of support for his funding applications, which has direct impact to Space and Satcom applications. This was achieved by assisting him with technical discussions and helping build a consortium for his future projects. He applied for the Royal Academy of Engineering UK Intelligence Community Research Fellowship, for which SAC was one of the biggest project partners. SAC’s letter of support was a key factor in the success of his application. SAC also supported him through the EPSRC ILN+ Researcher in Residence programme by offering their facilities to run measurements, providing a network of companies for commercialising his work, and hosting regular meetings for technical discussions. SAC regularly contributes to his special sessions at different conferences with their latest innovative work.
Building Strong Industry Ties
SAC’s team introduced Dr. Bansal to several key industry stakeholders. He has supported some of them with technical consultations, engineering consultancy projects, and the discussion of new ideas. They also act as project partners in his different project funding applications. SAC actively supported these collaborations, assisting in consortium building and facilitating technical discussions that paved the way for his successful project proposals.
Breakthrough Results and Ongoing Research
Dr. Bansal’s partnership with the SAC has produced transformative outcomes, driving innovation in advanced antenna technologies. Together, they have led the submission of two pioneering EPSRC proposals: one on active reconfigurable intelligent surfaces and the other on morphing metamaterials for dynamic electromagnetic beam control.
He is in the process of writing his New Investigator Award application, which has strong applications in space, with SAC as a key partner. They published two conference papers together, submitted one journal paper, and contributed to SAC and STFC’s position paper on additive manufacturing for space. He, along with rest of team at Loughborough University, was also introduced by SAC to GMV focusing on building new ground station antennas and it resulted in submission an ESA proposal.
Experience, Reflection, and Lessons Learned
After completing his secondment with SAC, Dr Bansal returned to Loughborough as a post-doctoral research associate in February 2023. In the same year, he secured the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering UK Intelligence Community Fellowship worth £250,000, along with a letter of support from the SAC’s additional Researcher in Residence Scheme, valued at £50,000. These grants will be used to look at new low-cost payload technologies for LEO satellites.
Mr Harvinder S Nagi, Senior System Architect at Satellite Applications Catapult commented: “I had the pleasure of connecting with Aakash at a conference earlier this summer, and I am thrilled to share that he’s now been promoted to Assistant Professor at Loughborough University. His success is a testament to the hard work and dedication that we, as a team at Satellite Applications Catapult, help foster”.
Dr Aakash Bansal reflected on his experience, stating: “Working with SAC was one of the most rewarding activities as it gave me an in-depth knowledge of what industry needs and how the space sector is continuously evolving. I continue to work with SAC as a Researcher in Residence, and by inviting SAC to my project consortium. I am grateful for the support of the CTO team, their inputs and their feedback all this time that has helped me groom my research in the best possible way.
I am always interested in working on new ideas, and if anyone thinks I can help with something they have been working on, or if there is a potential for me to contribute to their project or a new consortium, I am happy to hear from them. I invite you to write to me on a.bansal@lboro.ac.uk”.
