This three-and-a-half year project is to release, validate and verify a unique computer environment (i.e. the EPICEA platform) assimilating a complete understanding of electromagnetic (EM) issues on Composite Electric Aircraft (CEA – i.e. aircraft with composite and electric technologies combined and operating at higher altitude/latitude). EM on CEA includes EM coupling, interconnects, and Cosmic Radiations (CR) on electrical systems together with new concepts of antennas designed to maintain performance in composite environment without modifying aircraft aerodynamics. In EPICEA, CR, as parts of the EM spectrum, are considered as EM environmental hazards such as lightning or HIRF (High Intensity Radiated Fields). The targeted computer platform will support a decision making process for selection of the best strategy for the integration of electrical systems. Starting at a TRL3, the consortium will demonstrate a TRL4 at the end of the project. The project will address numerous engineering issues, aiming at a significant reduction of energy consumption through more electrical aircraft and systems integration. If successful, it will create a more robust EM protection for electrical systems (i.e. lightweight, cost effective and safety compliant), a lighter and safer electrical system architecture for EM protected, less redundant, safety compliant, easy to maintain systems, a less drag on new systems of antennas while maintaining EM performance, and also will point to best possible health monitoring solutions. Used from the early design phase of electrical systems up to the architecture definition for installation and integration of electrical systems into CEA, the EPICEA outcome will limit the recourse to over conservative protection and unnecessary redundancy in integration architecture. This will overcome the weight penalty currently jeopardising the development of energy-efficient CEAs and will strengthen the aircraft safety.

This FET-open Coordination and Support Action is called “Nanoarchitectronics” (NTX) to denote a new interdisciplinary research area at the crossroad of Electromagnetics and Nanoelectronics. NTX It is a new technology aimed at conceiving, designing and developing reconfigurable, adaptive and cognitive structures, sensorial surfaces and functional “skins” with unique physical properties, and engineering applications in the whole electromagnetic spectrum; through assembling building blocks at nanoscale in hierarchical architectures. The conception of this new area responds to the need of unifying concepts, methodologies and technologies in Communications, Environment Sensing Systems, Safety and Security, Bio-Sensing Systems and Imaging Nanosystems, within a wide frequency range. This FET project proposal gathers thirteen universities, research centers and high-tech industries, belonging to eight European countries. According to the FET work-program, the major objective of “Nanoarchitectronics” is to boost the future application-driven research through the establishment of an accepted language among physicists and engineers, a shared way of thinking, a common theoretical foundation and a common strategy for the future. Therefore, the project aims at laying the foundation for an ever-increasing synergy and progress of Nanoarchitectronics. To achieve these objectives, Nanoarchitectronics is structured in four main activities. The “Concept” activity is devoted to establish and define the concepts of Nanoarchitectronics and its boundaries with respect to other disciplines and to the activity carried out by other consortia. The “Strategy” activity identifies the policy dialogue and the strategic view of the consortium in terms of position, impact and vision. The “Virtual Networking” serves to internal web communication (private), and for dissemination (public). The “Dissemination and Exploitation” activity is carried out mainly by the industrial partners of the consortium

The large density of cables transporting various signals due to the introduction of composite materials and the transition to a More Electrical Aircraft is nowadays increasing the complexity of the design from an EMC point of view. So that the evolution of regulations makes safety analysis mandatory for the EWIS, leading to the necessity to estimate the reliability of the wiring system together with the functions which are committed to it. New EMC EWIS design rules and prototyping tools are needed to ensure the required very low rate of failure, without assuming too high design margins which could question expected gains at “global platform” level, increasing weight, installation complexity and cost. ANALYST aims at developing and validating a numerical modelling methodology based on statistical approaches for the specific context of EM compatibility analysis of cable harnesses in aeronautics. The following main goals will be pursued: • Development of a statistical harness modelling methodology, suitable to catch real-life complexity of aircraft installed harness (of the order of 40.000 cables, 10.000 electrical links) • Demonstration, evaluation of effectiveness and validation of the methodology; different modelling approaches, referring to state of the art solutions and innovations will be compared and validated with respect to measurement data. • Integration of the finally selected modelling approach in a CAE Framework, already equipped with the workflows and procedures needed to properly manage the wiring complexity of real aircraft. The solution has been identified in a fundamentally original approach, assuming to definitely consider the not-deterministic nature of the above mentioned problem, looking for a statistical description and extreme value assessment of the relevant physical parameters (currents, voltages, power) linked to statistical descriptions of the involved variables/environment (cable bundle geometry, installation conditions, etc.).

ALADDIN will study, design, develop, and evaluate, in series of complementary pilots, a counter UAV system as a complete solution to the growing UAV threat problem, building upon a state-of-the-art system and enhancing it by researching on various technologies and functionalities. ALADDIN will follow a holistic and heavily user-centred methodology involving a large number of LEAs and critical infrastructure operators, as well as an expert Advisory Board panel ensuring end-user diversity, as they all face different kinds of threats and work within different regulatory frameworks. This diversity is important to shape EU-wide system specifications and the innovative training curricula and training that will be realised to share the knowledge gained and raise awareness. Furthermore, within the project all regulations, social, ethical and legal elements will be studied thoroughly and continuously with an impact assessment produced and its results monitored during the project’s lifetime. ALADDIN’s sensing arsenal is comprised of a set of custom, innovative, and unique technologies as well as established and standard sensors used for UAV detection and localisation: 1) 2D/3D paired radars; 2) Innovative optro and thermal panoramic imaging; 3) Custom designed acoustic sensors. These will be fused through novel deep learning techniques in order to provide excellent detection accuracy. Further, ALADDIN will study and offer a set of neutralization effectors (jammers, physical and hacking). These sensing and countering capabilities will be operated through an advanced command and control (C2) system. The C2 will achieve great detection and classification accuracy within a large range, by fusing data acquired from all sensors through state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. Operator’s efficiency will be enhanced through a novel mixed reality interface with 3D cartographic and situational elements and will be complemented by support to operations like investigation and trainings

Promoting EGNSS Operational Adoption in BLUEMED FAB BLUEGNSS proposal aims at promote innovation technologies to maximise the potential of the European GNSS and its adoption. The Consortium, led by ENAV, Italian Air Navigation Service Provider, sees the participation of the other BLUE MED FAB ANSPS partners, such as DCAC – Cyprus, HCAA – Greece, MATS – Malta and is complemented by an industrial partner IDS (Italy) to promote a fully integrated approach. The primary objective of the BLUEGNSS Project is to develop European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS) aeronautical applications in accordance with ICAO standards and in particular to design RNP approaches with all 3 minimas (LPV, LNAV/VNAV, LNAV), in selected airports in order to increase their accessibility and safety. The publication of the procedures on the national AIPs will allow the adoption of such technology by civil aviation, demonstrating safety, operational and economic benefits. Other objectives, linked to the primary one, are: • Training procedure designers on the design and regular review of RNP APCH procedures; • Disseminating EGNSS culture among BLUEMED partners; • Implementing a regional EGNSS Monitoring Network and data recording capabilities in support of the validation of RNP APCH and of the introduction of Galileo for aeronautical applications. Design and validation of RNP APCH is a fundamental enabler for the exploitation of EGNSS in the aviation domain and to push forward its adoption in Europe. This is the first time in Europe that a RNP APCH implementation project is coordinated at FAB level. The advantage of such approach is that States that don’t have enough experience on RNP APCH operational implementation will take benefit from inter FAB knowledge transfer. Furthermore the BLUEMED PBN Task Force framework will act as catalyst platform to spread knowledge among the area and beyond at whole EU level.