Asteroid Objectives

The main objective of the ASTEROID project is thus to extend the dimension of high performance infrared FPA that can be manufactured in Europe to dimensions equivalent to that of the US detector, overturning all constraints mentioned above. This will allow Europe to become independent for the procurement of this type of detectors. The targeted format is 2k² 15µm pitch FPA (2048x2048 pixels).

To reach this goal, three steps are required:

• Step 1: The technology must be available and mature. Technology here is understood as the association of:
  • The design rules
  • The manufacturing / processing knowledge required to manufacture the detectors.
• Step 2: The 2k² products must be designed using the design rules associated to the technology and acquired in Step 1.
• Step 3: The industrial capacity to manufacture the detectors must be available.

However, three years’ project duration and 5 million Euros project budget cannot allow to go through the three steps described above. Considering the EU constraints in the COMPET01 U18, ASTEROID project Objectives are thus to acquire the technology necessary to manufacture 2k² IR FPA with preparing the strategy to create an industrial manufacturing line.

The technology required for manufacturing 2k² FPA is composed of 3 essential building blocks. One objective is associated to each of these building blocks as described below:

The technology required for manufacturing 2k² FPA is composed of 3 essential building blocks. One objective is associated to each of these building blocks as described below:

Finally, to address Step 2 and define the strategy to implement an industrial manufacturing line, project ASTEROID also considers a fourth objective which is a commercial and industrial strategy definition for the 2k² IR detector. This crucial objective is described below: