Success cases in the
collaboration between
University and Industry
Piero G. Maranesi
Università degli Studi di Milano
Dept. of Physics – Electronic Section
Summary
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Peculiarities of the Electronic
Physicist figure; its education and
related research in the Department
3 Examples of successful cooperation
with Industries
A future with lights and shadows
Steps forward
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Electronics
in the Department of Physics
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Electronics for Nuclear Physics in the Low
and in the High Energy Fields and related
to Accelerators and Superconductivity
Power Electronics:
• HF Converters for Space and Ground
Applications
• Modeling and Development of CAD tools for
switching networks
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Activities in the local INFN Section and in
the Departments of Information Science
and Digital Communication
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
The Electronic Physicist Figure
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Since the early sixties, the University
of Milan has graduated about one
thousand of EPhs
Most of them are employed in the
Lombard Industrial Basin
Aerospace, Biomedical, Industrial
Electronics, Instrumentation and
Control, Power Processing, Digital
Systems, Electron Devices
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
ALENIA SPAZIO - LABEN
Alenia Spazio - LABEN is a company of Finmeccanica, the largest aerospace
group in Italy. Within Finmeccanica, LABEN recently merged with Alenia Spazio
and changed his name from LABEN S.p.A. to Alenia Spazio - LABEN.
LABEN was established in 1958 to design and manufacture electronic instruments
for research in nuclear physics. Space activities started with the programs of the
European organizations ELDO and ESRO, later merged into ESA - European
Space Agency - and expanded more and more since then.
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Collaboration for a long time
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Nuclear detectors Signal Processing
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Data Acquisition systems
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Power conditioning for on-board
satellites
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
A successful collaboration
4090 DC-DC Converter
Secondary
AGND
Input
Inrush Current
Filter
Limiter
3.3V
Secondary
5V
DC/DC Converter
BOOST Preregulator
Secondary
AGND
PRIMARY GND
Current
PWM
Feedback
Logic
Voltage
Push-Pull
Feedback
Auxiliary
Supply
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
+15V
Secondary
-15V
Modeling and Dynamic optimization
of the switching converter
R1
Vin
+
-
L1
R3
L2
D
R2
T
C1
R GE
I out
R4
R load
C2
+
Vcomp
VG
Vcontr
-
VG =2 Vcomp
R CO
+
-
Vp
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Forecasts and measurements of the closed loop
audiosusceptibility and input admittance
Audiosusceptibility forecasts and measurements
Input admittance forecasts and measurements
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
4090
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Launched in 2002, Envisat is the largest Earth Observation
spacecraft ever built. It carries ten sophisticated optical and radar
instruments to provide continuous observation and monitoring of
the Earth's land, atmosphere, oceans and ice caps.
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Cluster
Cluster is a collection of four spacecraft flying in formation around
Earth. They relay the most detailed ever information about how
the solar wind affects our planet in three dimensions.
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
CARLO GAVAZZI SPACE
Carlo Gavazzi Space Spa is
involved in the development
of space systems and is part
of a cluster of European
enterprises operating in the
aerospace
and
telematic
business. Founded in 1981,
with headquarters in Milan
and research centers in Italy.
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
The International Space Station
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Power Distribution on the ISS
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
The allocation of PE in the ISS
The remote power distribution assembly (RPDA)
for the ISS provides 120VDC from main bus and
isolated 28VDC to the payload racks.
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
The Remote Power
Distribution Assembly
Adaptive configuration in
a single box of different
types of Exchangeable
Standard
Electronic
Modules (ESEM)
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
ESEM4 Features
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It provides 28VDC to payloads by DC/DC
conversion from 120 VDC
Maximum output power: 560W
Efficiency: 90 %
2 x 10A outlets
Outlet current settings: 5-10 A
Over-current protection/tolerance; trip
delayed according to protection algorithm
Dynamic robustness
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Power Cell of the Full Bridge Phase
Shifted 120/28 Volt DC-DC Converter
S2
+
S6
Co
iL
S4
T2
Vo
Vin
Llk
S5
T1
S3
T3
S1
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
load
GALILEO
AVIONICA
Mission electronics, avionics and electro-optics.
Wholly owned by Finmeccanica, Galileo Avionica produces
in navigation/attack equipments, airborne and precision
approach radars, simulators, space and electro-optics,
logistic and service apparatus.
Today, with the recent incorporation of FIAR, METEOR,
ALELCO and TECNOSPAZIO, it employs a 3400 staff in 8
production sites.
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
FEEP HV Drive
Buck
Push-Pull
Moltiplicatori
CW
+9KV
BUS 28V
D1
Vin
T
V in
Lp1
Ls1
Lp2
Ls2
R load
D2
L
D
C
C
R
T1
T
Vout=562V
Vin=28V
Vout=0 – 25V
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Electric Propulsors
Radio Frequency Ion Thruster (RIT)
Field Emission Electric Propulsor (FEEP)
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Lights and Shadows
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Increased concern on the
University/Industry relationship
Reduced capacity of supporting risky and
delayed revenue investments (Research /
Development)
Far East production potential and human
resources (entrepreneurial ability)
ST Microelectronics in Agrate
Mandatory NDAs and consequences
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
STMicroelectronics
Manufacturing facility in AGRATE
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry
Short term steps forward
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Increase the cooperation with industry
starting from educational topics:
• Stages, Graduation Thesis in industrial
labs, Continuing Education
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Provide incentives to enrolment of
students in scientific university
courses
Establish University Chairs focused on
industrial relationships
Success cases in the collaboration between University and Industry