Location:

address: Space Applications Services, Leuvensesteenweg 325, B-1932 Zaventem, Belgium
tel: +32 (0)2/721.54.84
fax: +32 (0)2/721.54.44
web: http://www.spaceapplications.com/

Description of participant

Space Applications (http://www.spaceapplications.com) is an SME whose main business is in the aerospace domain. It has major activities in European manned, unmanned and re-entry vehicle space projects and participates in a number of 5FP and 6FP projects covering covering command and control system for spacecraft and robots, training, virtual reality and man machine interfaces, including the Network of Excellence on VIrtual Reality ANd VirTUal Environments ApplIcaTIONs for Future Workspaces, known as INTUITION, where Space Applications participates in the Aerospace node, and AD4 ‘4D Virtual Airspace Management System. Member of the Climbing and Walking Robot Network Excellence (CLAWAR).

The key expertise of Space Applications is System Integration. This is mainly applied to the systems of the space industry, which covers a wide range of domains that include robotics, intelligent MMIs and Virtual Reality, simulation of complex systems, training, etc. Facilities include VR, AR and mixed reality development environment, head mounted displays and motion tracking devices. Space Applications main activities are:

• System Engineering: Space system engineering, specification, operations engineering, training and software development from the earliest phases of spacecraft and mission concept definition to on-orbit operations.
• Software Engineering: Design and Development of command and control systems, according to demanding software engineering standards.
• Distributed control for fixed and mobile robots in structured and unstructured environments.
• Computer assisted learning
• Knowledge Engineering and Management Systems
• Research and Development/Human Centred Design Establishment of methods and tailorable processes for collaborative multi modal HCI development. Development of multi modal HCI.

Aerospace Applications North America Incorporated is a subsidiary of Space Applications Services NV which focuses its activities on Human Centred Engineering in the domain of manned aircraft, unmanned vehicles, manned space vehicles, robotics, remote and automated control. Its main activities are performed with NASA Johnson Space Center as well as with United States Universities and companies. The company is also active within NASA’s Exploration Programme. They will participate in this project at no cost, providing technical insight into research and development in the USA and application technology oriented information.

Customers and Partners are: EADS (D,F, UK), Alcatel Telecom / Alcatel CRC (B, F), Alenia Alcatel Space (I), Dassault Aviation (F), European Space Agency: ESTEC, ESOC, ESRIN, and ESA-HO, Kayser-Threde (D), Logica (UK), Philips (NL), Sener (E).

Key researchers

Michel ILZKOVITZ (*1956) is a Senior Engineer in Systems and Ground Segment Group Manager, he has a Master degree in Applied Sciences with specialization in telecommunications. He combines a deep experience in software engineering with a wide knowledge in system engineering, data and telecommunications for ground and on- board space systems. He has the responsibility for taking the key technical decisions and for the overall management of the projects developed in the GS&C Group.

Jeremi GANCET (*1976) has a Ph.D. in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence from the Laboratoire d’Analyse et d’Architecture des Systèmes, Toulouse, France. He participated in European aerial robotics research projects involving European academic and industrial partners. He also took part in the scientific contributions, designing and implementing a prototype of multi-aerial robots (UAV) architecture to control the system and perform decision making in a distributed way. Mission planning and processing were explicitly recommended in this scheme. Mr. Gancet also participated in the organization and coordination of the project, as well as in writing technical documentation and reports.

Tanguy FAUTRE (*1981) is a software engineer with a degree in Computer Science. He is active in the field of virtual reality, including real-time 3D graphics, and artificial intelligence.

Elvina MOTARD (*1984) has a Master in Intelligent Systems from the Toulouse University, France. Ms. Motard studied robotics, computer sciences and artificial intelligence domains. She developped skills in software programming (C, C++), modelization frameworks (Matlab) and computer vision (OpenCV, OpenGL). Before joining Space Applications, Ms Motard worked in the Computer Vision Center in Barcelona, Spain, on relative localization and SLAM issues for a mobile robot and in Staubli Faverges on collision avoidance techniques for a robotic arm.

Role of partner

Space Applications will define collaborative - robotic scenarios, specify collaborative-robotic taxonomy. Participate to prototype development and the assessment and evaluation of human factors and psychological issues