Projects
DISCOS: Distributed Information Storage and Communication in Outer Space
DISCOS (Distributed Information Storage and Communication in Outer Space) is an R&D activity in the emerging area of security in DTN-based space data systems. The activity aims towards the design and implementation of a secure hw device running the DTN stack that can be part of the DTN trials in ground and ultimately in space.
The DISCOS proposal is in accordance with the specifications set by the CCSDS and ESA. The DISCOS proposal sets the following objectives:
(i) to assess the security requirements for space DTN in order to propose and implement secure mechanisms that satisfies them and that mitigate the identified threats
(ii) to test DTN with security mechanisms
(iii) to design and implement a secure DTN device node consisting of hardware modules (low-power processor, memory and storage area) and interoperable software modules (the DTN stack and the implemented security mechanisms)
(iv) to assess/evaluate the system’s performance
(v) to identify and quantify the trade-offs between security and performance and to propose optimizations.
Space-Data Routers
FP-7 Project co-funded by European Commission
SPA.2010.2.1-03 Exploitation of science and exploration data
This project that has the potential to allow Space Agencies, Academic Institutes and Research Centers to share space-data generated by a single or multiple missions, in a natural, flexible, secure and automated manner. We develop a communication overlay modeled according to thematic context of missions, Ground Segment topological distribution, Agency policies and Application restrictions and requirements. We realize our model through the development of Space-Data Routers: a (Delay-Tolerant Networking) DTN-enabled device that:
(i) incorporates the Space Agency administrative instructions and policies for data dissemination and resource utilization, and
(ii) integrates the DTN protocol stack with application, network and link layer protocols.
We pay particular attention to ESA roadmap for Interplanetary Communications and implement a communication scheme that scales natively with future deployments in Space. In essence, we promote the ultimate objective of most missions, which is to return space data, which, in turn, will be disseminated and exploited for the benefit of human scientific knowledge. Space-Data Routers form an overlay suitable for exploiting space data efficiently, which is, by definition, a major objective of all space missions and probably the most significant failure today.
Extending Internet into Space - Phase 3: ESA/ESOC DTN/IP Testbed Deployment and Optimization
Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA)
This project elaborates on four major activities:
- Evaluation of CFDP Service versus DTN service, full CFDP over full DTN and CFDP as file service over full DTN service. A roadmap from CFDP to DTN service will be discussed and evaluated based on scheduled activities for deployment in Space in 2023 and beyond.
- Enhancements of the DTN Testbed in the context of Space Internetworking. This activity is associated with the design and deployment of a lightweight version of DTN for Space, in which some unnecessary functions of the bundle may be removed while others such as priorities and naming may be added.
- Experiments with the Testbed, in three phases. These experiments will evaluate the functionality of DTN, the efficiency of DTN and the potential of DTN to provide reliable communication service through alternative channels.
- Enhancement of the Testbed with Security mechanisms, which will be studied in depth.
The ultimate objectives of the present proposal are highlighted below:
- To integrate ESA policies and procedures into administrative protocol instructions.
- To integrate realistic scenarios and applications into Testbed.
- To allow for policy-based routing along with static and flexible dynamic routing.
- To unify space and earth communications through layered architecture and convergence layers.
- To evaluate all aspects of the new architecture adequately, emphasizing on security.
- To determine – through experiments – the roadmap from CFDP to DTN.
Space Internetworking Center (SPICE)
FP-7 Project co-funded by European Commission
SPICE relies on three major objectives: to broaden the group’s accomplished research innovation and engineering capacity both by mobilizing our resources to visit first-class cooperating European institutions and hiring top class researchers from abroad; to support a revolutionary scientific agenda, as far as Delay Tolerant Networking is concerned, that boosts European competitiveness and supports a wide spectrum of applications; and to institutionalize and establish a permanent quality framework for innovative research activities in the convergence region of Thrace. Apart from the required infrastructure update, SPICE aims at promoting research through the publication of special issues in high-quality journals, the organisation of regular lectures and presentations from distinguished scientists, as well as the hosting of a panel session and two workshops on promising networking technologies, like 4G communications.
**NEWS**
ICT ACTION IC0906: Wireless Networking for Moving Objects (WiNeMO)
Corresponding Link: ICT Action IC0906
Objectives:
The main objective of this Action is to advance the state-of-the-art concerning networking aspects of scenarios integrating moving objects of the most varied kinds, ranging from personal use devices to sensors, into the Internet of the Future. In particular, the Action will coordinate the development of new algorithms, techniques, protocols models and tools that will facilitate the integration of moving objects into pervasive and ambient communications.
Abstract:
The Internet of the Future will incorporate a large number of autonomous wireless objects moving with diverse patterns and speeds while communicating via several radio interfaces. Examples of such objects may include humans, cars or unmanned aerial vehicles, with every object acting as a networking device generating, relaying and/or absorbing data. Achieving the Internet of the Future, will require global interoperability amongst objects/devices, not typically common place due to inherent features of today’s Internet. To overcome the current shortcomings, a number of research challenges have to be addressed in the area of networking, including protocol engineering, development of applications and services, as well as realistic use-cases. The Action will increase the knowledge and coordinate research efforts of national and international projects in the area of Wireless Networking for Moving Objects(WiNeMO). Its activity will foster wide dissemination of research results, serving as an internationally recognized reference point through capacity building of WiNeMO stakeholders offering appropriate networking opportunities to early-stage researchers. The results will be also demonstrated through joint living labs and show cases for researchers, decision makers and public exhibitions.
National Network of Excellence in High-Performance Computing (HellasHPC)
Funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology
The goal of HellasHPC is the establishment of a national network of excellence in the domain of supercomputing infrastructures and High-Performance Computing (HPC) in general. The network will bring together scientific teams, researchers and users of HPC from research and academic institutes coming from all regions of Greece.
The main activity of the network will be a feasibility study in which we will record and present the current situation in Greece, and the requirements of the Greek research community for what concerns HPC infrastructures. The study will also include an overview survey of the current state-of-the-art in HPC together with an estimated cost for the potential procurements, installation and management of such computing system in Greece.
Extending Internet into Space - Phase 2: ESA/ESOC DTN/IP Testbed Implementation and Evaluation
Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA)
Corresponding Link: Extending Internet Into Space Project
Our objective is to design an appropriate DTN/IP Space-Ground testbed and associated scenarios for evaluation, mainly targeting Mars communications.
The main target of ESA/ESOC Testbed is to provide the supportive infrastructure to mission designers, scientists (Universities, CCSDS, IETF) and technology developers, for evaluation and testing of space communication management policies, communication architectures and protocols, including CCSDS-based and IP-based protocols and standards. In this context, the objectives of the testbed are as follows:
Broad Objectives
• Demonstrate operational capabilities of DTN
• Demonstrate potential for interoperability among different agencies
• Deploy DTN protocols
Specific Objectives
• Emulation of space network elements (ground stations, spacecrafts, planetary orbiters, relay satellites, rovers, landers etc.) and their communication link characteristics.
Evaluation of alternative communication architectures considering also the potential of IP-based networking in Space and Delay Tolerant Networking.
• Validation, evaluation and optimization of new protocols and standards such as standard CCSDS protocols (CFDP, SCPS, TM/TC, AOS), DTNRG Protocols (Bundle Protocol and LTP), other DTN-oriented protocols (routing algorithms, transport protocols), and mission applications.
• Validate assumed requirements for communication interoperability between space elements supporting different protocol stacks.
• Performance characterization.
• Mission design and operation before system deployment, thus reducing mission risk.
• Cost-effective alternative to flight demonstrations.
In general, the testbed shall be configured to emulate any current or future space communication scenario, with varying space elements, topologies and operational parameters. The testbed shall emphasize on exploiting the potential of DTN, which is specially designed to enhance the reliability of data storage and accessibility.
Extending Internet into Space - Phase 1
Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA)
Our objective is to build a space-suitable set of Internetworking protocols to allow efficient communications and application diversity.
More particularly, our objective is to offer:
• Alternative communication means for space-to-earth, space-to-space, and earth-to-space channels.
• Space-wide transport bus for data processing, monitoring and testing.
Our long-term plan includes three phases:
1. At the first phase, we intend to graft space-oriented mechanisms into the Internet protocol suite and evaluate their performance with simulations.
The first phase will conclude with a design directive for space Internetworking.
2. At the second phase we intend to build a test-bed where actual implementation and emulation of space conditions will be possible. The protocols and mechanisms will be implemented and evaluated with diverse applications and devices.
3. At the final phase we will achieve wide deployment through the use of IP-enabled software specific to actual devices, applications and operations.
At this stage, we focus on the first phase of the project where we intend to simulate an experimental protocol stack suitable for space communications. The stack will include protocols that match distinctive requirements of potential applications and users, and will be evaluated comparatively with standard and experimental Internet protocols when conditions match the characteristics of space. The experimental protocols, as well as the conditions of asymmetry, error patterns and propagation delay will be simulated with the network simulator. Based on the results of the evaluation, we intend to address the design perspective of the protocol suite for space Internetworking, which will include protocols for:
• Reliable transmission for mission critical applications
• Real-time large-data communications for video-audio delivery
• Real-time tiny-data communications for testing and evaluation of spacecraft components
• Task distribution algorithms and methodologies for exploiting large computational capacity of the Internet
• Routing strategies and route cost assignment for predefined patterns of mobility
• Prediction strategies to enable best route and strategy selection online.
PENED
Pythagoras
COST 290: Wi-QoST - Traffic and QoS Management in Wireless Multimedia Networks
Corresponding Link: COST 290 Project
With respect to the state-of-the-art of mobile R&D fields nowadays, the purpose of this COST Action is to bring together researchers in the fields of telecommunications and computer networks as well as multimedia applications designers, network and service providers and general-purpose software developers. The shared knowledge here is lying exactly in the area of traffic engineering and QoS control for next-generation multimedia services, an expertise, which is believed, will bring significant benefits to all the European research community. This area is becoming of utmost strategic importance from both the research perspective and the industrial one. In this domain, the USA and Europe are sufficiently active, but Europe lacks a strong coordination between academic and industrial worlds. This COST Action will influence and contribute R&D efforts on a wide range of topics.
Virtual Guide: Intelligent Multimedia Museum Navigation with Wireless Technology
(The Group collaborates with the Cultural and Educational Technology Institute, which is the project collaborator.)
Funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology / Region of East Macedonia - Thrace
Corresponding Links: Virtual Guide Project, Xenagos Application
The Virtual Guide project is developing an advanced navigation aid system suitable for deployment in museums and exhibitions using low-cost wireless technologies. A typical VG user holds a portable device (PDA) which facilitates the visit by providing contextualized information and services. The embedded «intelligence» of the system enables the automatic recognition of the visitor's location and thereby adjusting the provided information and multimedia content according to the visitor's location and the surrounding exhibits. The Virtual Guide project will provide rich experience to the visitor, grasp his attention, improve exhibitions usability and increase the visitor's «cultural experience», as well as the cultural / informative result of a visit. Thus, the exhibition site becomes more attractive and its cultural impact is enhanced. The system will be installed and pilot tested at the Ecclesiastical Museum of Alexandroupolis, whose exhibition is concordant to modern museologic guidelines. The design of the Virtual Guide system is flexible in order to allow it to be adjusted to serve other exhibition areas too.
ERCIM Working Group eMobility
The ERCIM eMobility Working Group aims to develop strategic basic research agenda and project proposals in the area of eMobility. To complement the activities of the eMobility European Technology Platform (ETP), the working group focusses on more (theoretical) basic research issues. The goal are long-term research projects with a more academic background, without having any commercial constrains. A strong focus lies on research addressing social, environmental problems and disruptive technologies. The main topics of the working groups research are:
• Applications & Services
• Middleware & Security
• Network Architectures & Technologies
• Protocols
Furthermore, the eMobility Working Group aims to disseminate research results on the field of mobile technologies and to organize workshops and conferences in that area.