The data collection service (DCS) is one of the core services operated by EUMETSAT in support of meteorology and weather prediction. The service enables data collection platform (DCP) operators to use the Meteosat system to receive environmental data collected from DCP platforms. The DCS, initially established with the first generation of Meteosat satellites, has continued and expanded with Meteosat Second Generation, and is also on board MTG-I1 ready for operations. The DCS is particularly useful for the collection of data from remote and inhospitable locations where it may provide the only possibility for data relay.
In May 2024, a proposal for a new DCP Standard was endorsed by CGMS. The WGI Task Group on DCS had been working on the Enhanced DCP standard for the last 3 years. The standard is now mature enough to move to building and testing a prototype. This will allow the standard to be tested and the expectations on the performance of the standard to be verified.
The purpose of this internship is to study and analyse through simulations and ad-hoc software tools the potential performance of the new E-DCP standard when applied to EUMETSAT’s GEO spacecraft fleet. The new S/W simulation tools (mainly MatLab and/or C++) shall be developed or tailored to allow parameterisation of the different scenarios, including extreme degraded cases. This internship will provide students with the possibility to put in practice several different signal processing techniques learnt at university.
Duties
The main tasks of the internship would be to:
- Review existing MSG and MTG DCP technical documentation (including operational principles);
- Familiarisation with the current TD-16 standard and the new CGMS E-DCP standard;
- Analyse the feasibility and expected performance of the new standard applied to MSG and MTG;
- Generate a set of operational and non-operational scenarios aiming at measuring the performance margins of the new E-DCP for EUMETSAT’s GEO spacecraft;
- Generate (MatLab and/or C++) the required test tools in order to run the selected operational and non-operational scenarios;
- Evaluate the performance of such systems under the different scenarios;
- Generate corresponding reports and Technical Notes (as needed);
- Generate a final technical report;
- In addition, the intern will support relevant day-to-day activities within the team.
Skills and Experience
- Have the ability to work effectively in English;
- Be computer literate;
- Be intrinsically motivated and curious about the internship subject;
- Be able to work independently and collaboratively;
- Have the ability to take the initiative in researching ideas;
- Have the ability to collect, collate, conceptualize and present information clearly.
Additional specific requirements:
- Good understanding of modern signal processing techniques;
- Good understanding of space telecommunications systems;
- Practical experience in either C, C++ or MatLab;
- Practical experience in reading and assessing technical documentation.