Power conversion has become a critical focus in the race to make satellite and communications payloads lighter, smaller, and more energy-efficient. Airbus Crisa’s latest development, the Antenna Power Regulator (APR) module, represents a decisive step forward.
Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) NAVISP program, the APR project set out to rethink how active antennas are powered. Speaking at a recent ESA-hosted event, Airbus Crisa Project Technical Manager Daniel G. Aller said the the aim was simple but ambitious – to achieve a digitally controlled, high-efficiency converter capable of reducing mass and volume of power systems without compromising reliability.
The APR’s architecture centers on several independent, bidirectional converter channels, each rated for up to 50 volts and 8 amps, all operating under cold-redundant field-programmable gate array (FPGA) control. The modular approach allows multiple converters to run in parallel for higher loads, while precise current control ensures stability across RF power amplifier chains. The design also leverages commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components, further aligning with Airbus Crisa’s goal of rapid scalability and cost efficiency.
New way forward
Conventional active antenna arrays demand multiple voltage rails and current-controlled feeds, traditionally managed through bulky, heat-intensive supply chains. The APR team, led by Aller, Project Manager Marcelo Durán, and Systems Engineering Team Leader Marcos Nuñez, adopted a GaN-based, digitally regulated topology designed for unprecedented power density. Gallium Nitride devices have transformed what’s achievable in switching frequency and efficiency, delivering efficiencies nearing 98 percent across multiple converters.
Researchers conducted a rigorous testing campaign, including electrical, functional, and thermal evaluations at Airbus Crisa’s facilities near Madrid, with particular attention to grounding, bonding, and electromagnetic compatibility.
While the prototype marginally exceeded mass targets, a common trade-off in first-generation hardware, the electrical outcomes were compelling. Efficiency and telemetry performance met or exceeded design expectations, validating both the converter topology and the digital supervisory logic.
Aller said the data handling system simulations mapped perfectly to hardware results, confirming the model’s readiness for integration into flight-grade systems. The company’s roadmap now points toward a series of modular power supply units (MVPSUs) that will incorporate lessons learned from the APR. Plans for these next-generation platforms are already set through 2030, forming the backbone of Crisa’s future antenna and payload power products.
Aller summarized: “We’ve proven that GaN-based digital regulation can deliver smaller, cooler, and smarter power systems. That’s not just an incremental gain.” The new technology supports GNSS satellite-based navigation and PNT systems, providing the foundation for lighter, higher-efficiency power for active antennas.
