New investment offers satellite comms boost for Dublin technology spin-out
A technology spin-out from Dublin City University has received almost €1m from Kernel Capital to help expand its team and accelerate the company’s international growth plans.
Pilot Photonics’ technology is an optical comb source (OCS), a versatile laser system that enables constellations of satellites to communicate at higher speeds, an important consideration for handling large volumes of data that satellites currently gather and transmit. The company's OCS is claimed to absorb one-third of the power of competing approaches at a fraction of the cost.
The investment, made by Kernel through The Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Funds in syndication with Dublin Business Innovation Centre, follows a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) through its Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) entry programme.
Company CEO Frank Smyth said the PICSAL (Photonic Integrated Combs for Space Applications) project will require the development of an RF drive source, a dedicated optical package, and a new optical comb laser source based on photonic integration.
The company will also develop a housing and driver module for the comb source as well as conduct verification and initial space readiness tests.
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