News

STAR-Dundee at Space Computing & Connected Enterprise Resiliency Conference

STAR-Dundee attended the Space Computing & Connected Enterprise Resiliency Conference for the first time, in Bedford, Massachusetts from June 4th – June 8th 2018.

STAR-Dundee took part in Session 5 (1:00PM – 3:30PM, DoubleTree): ‘Interconnects for Space – including SpaceVPX, SpaceWire, SpaceFibre, sRIO, TTE, standards/markets, and emerging standards.’

Dave Gibson, a Software Engineer at STAR-Dundee, gave a presentation covering the main features and benefits of SpaceFibre. Find out more about SpaceFibre here: https://www.star-dundee.com/knowledge-base/what-is-spacefibre.

STAR-Dundee at DASIA 2018

PANGU

Our last conference in May is Data Systems in Aerospace (DASIA) from the 29th-31st of May in Oxford, UK.

On May 29th, our CTO, Steve Parkes, will be presenting ‘A Wideband Spectrometer in the Microsemi RTG4 FPGA‘ at 16:00 in Room B and then ‘SpaceFibre Image Sensor and Data Processing Units’ at 16:30 in Room A.

On May the 30th, Steve will present a paper on PANGU ‘PANGU V4: A Software tool for testing vision-based guidence and navigation systems for in-orbit, entry descent and landing and surface mobility operations’ at 9:00 in Room A.

STAR-Dundee will also have a table in the exhibition hall where we will have a demonstration of PANGU.

See the full programme at the Data Systems in Aerospace (DASIA) website.

STAR-Dundee at SEE/MAPLD 2018

STAR-Dundee at SEE/MAPLD 2018

STAR-Dundee will be exhibiting at the Single Event Effects (SEE) Symposium & Military and Aerospace Programmable Logic Devices (MAPLD) Workshop in San Diego on 21-24 May.

Visit our Stand to see the first demos of our new products Link Analyser Mk3, STAR Fire Mk3 and SpaceWire Gigabit Ethernet (GbE Brick) which will soon be relased for sale.

Our CTO, Steve Parkes, will also present on the topic ‘A High Availability, High Reliability SpaceVPX System’ on Wednesday 23rd of May. See the full programme on the Single Event Effects (SEE) Symposium & Military and Aerospace Programmable Logic Devices (MAPLD) website.

Featured Image: Our new products: Link Analyser Mk3, STAR Fire Mk3 and SpaceWire Gigabit Ethernet (GbE Brick).

STAR-Dundee at SpaceWire Conference 2018

STAR-Dundee at SpaceWire Conference 2018

May is a busy month for all at STAR-Dundee. We will be at 3 events: SpaceWire Conference, SEE/MAPLD and DASIA.

From 14-18 May we will be at the SpaceWire Conference in Los Angeles.

On Monday the 14th Steve Parkes, our CTO and author of the SpaceFibre standard with inputs from several spacecraft engineers, will be presenting a SpaceFibre tutorial, explaining how the protocol operates and how it can be used to solve many communications problems on-board spacecraft. This tutorial is free for everyone registered for the SpaceWire Conference. More information can be found on the SpaceWire Conference website programme page.

STAR-Dundee’s CEO, Stuart Mills, will Chair the ‘Missions & Applications’ session from 11:30-12:35 on Tuesday the 15th and STAR-Barcelona Director and R&D Engineer Albert Ferrer Florit will chair the ‘Networks & Protocols’ session from 13:30-15:00 on Wednesday the 16th.

Employees from STAR-Dundee have contributed to a number of papers which will be presented at the conference. The titles, authors and times are below:

Tuesday the 15th:

  • (51) Stuart Mills, Chris McClements, David Paterson, Pete Scott, Steve Parkes; TESTING OVER ETHERNET WITH THE SPACEWIRE GBE BRICK (10:30-11:00)
  • (56) Albert Ferrer-Florit, Alberto Gonzalez Villafranca, Steve Parkes, Chris McClements;SPACEFIBRE INTERFACE AND ROUTING SWITCH IP CORES (15:25 – 16:15)

Thursday 17th:

  • (54) Steve Parkes, Ashish Srivastava, Chris McClements, Pete Scott, David Dillon, Albert Ferrer Florit, Alberto Gonzalez Villafranca; SPACEFIBRE CAMERA (9:00-10:15)
  • (55) Steve Parkes, Pete Scott, David Dillon, Martin Dunstan, Chris McClements, Albert Ferrer Florit, Alberto Gonzalez Villafranca; SPACEVPX-RTG4 BOARD WITH SPACEWIRE OR SPACEFIBRE BACKPLANE (9:00-10:15)
  • (52) Stephen Mudie, David Gibson, Chris McClements, Stuart Mills, Steve Parkes; TESTING SPACEFIBRE EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS (15:15-16:30)
  • (53) Stephen Mudie, David Gibson, Chris McClements, Stuart Mills, Steve Parkes; SPACEWIRE LINK ANALYSER MK3 AND SPACEWIRE RECORDER (15:15-16:30)

Visit the SpaceWire Conference website for the full programme.

STAR-Dundee will also be exhibiting at the conference. Visit our stand to be one of the first to see demos showcasing three new products: the Link Analyser Mk3, STAR Fire Mk3 and SpaceWire Gigabit Ethernet (GbE Brick) which will soon be relased for sale.

Registration for the SpaceWire conference is open until the 14th of May – register here: http://2018.spacewire-conference.org/registration/

Featured Image: Electronics Engineer Pete Scott ready to demo at the SpaceWire Conference 2018.

Studentship opportunity in Space Technology

Crab Nebula in bright neon colours

Interested in Space Technology?

Graduated from an Electronic Engineering degree or similar course?

Then the Optical Communication and Image Processing for Space Applications (OCIPSA) engineering funded studentship with STAR-Dundee, The University of Dundee, Heriot-Watt University and EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Photonics is for you!

The OCIPSA project will research and develop optical communication technology and image processing technology for space applications. It will explore the use of fibre optics in high-availability SpaceFibre networks, considering lane and link redundancy to provide the high reliability and high availability capabilities required on-board a spacecraft. Experimentation is expected to include the design (in VHDL for FPGAs) of digital communication protocol engines driving fibre optics, the construction of fault tolerant networks, the integration of an image sensor and image processing application, and the overall evaluation of the performance of the fibre optic network in the event of transient, persistent and permanent lane and link failures.

Find out more here: https://www.cdtphotonics.hw.ac.uk/vacancy/2017/optical-communication-and-image-processing-space-applications-ocipsa 

Find out how to apply here: https://www.cdtphotonics.hw.ac.uk/apply.html 

The featured image shows the Crab Nebula in bright neon colours. The unusual image was produced by combining data from telescopes spanning nearly the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to X-rays. Find out more here: http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages Copyright: NASA, ESA, G. Dubner (IAFE, CONICET-University of Buenos Aires) et al.; A. Loll et al.; T. Temim et al.; F. Seward et al.; VLA/NRAO/AUI/NSF; Chandra/CXC; Spitzer/JPL-Caltech; XMM-Newton/ESA; and Hubble/STScI, CC BY 4.0

Christmas at STAR-Dundee

Christmas at STAR-Dundee

Christmas has arrived at STAR-Dundee! The tree is up, the party is planned and everyone is feeling in the festive spirit.

This year we have lots to celebrate, we turned 15 years old, transformed into an employee owned company, were awarded Courier Design and Innovation Business of the Year and opened a subsidiary company STAR-Barcelona, not to mention all of the products we have improved and customers we have supported!

Our dedicated staff have been working very hard on lots of exciting projects while answering support questions, processing sales and packaging products for the last delivery slot before Christmas.

During this period it is very important to use the below forms or include the enquiries, sales or support emails in correspondence with STAR-Dundee. Doing so will ensure the best available person is able to answer your questions.

Log general enquiries here: https://www.star-dundee.com/contact

Request a quote from here: https://www.star-dundee.com/pricing-enquiry

Ask for technical support here: https://www.star-dundee.com/request-technical-support

We will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible and are always happy to help.

Please note between the 21st of December and the 2nd of January, responses may be slower than usual due to winter holidays.

We hope you all enjoy the festive season and look forward to working with you in 2018!

The featured image shows some of the team in front of our STAR-Dundee themed Christmas tree, with its very own STAR-Dundee logo topper.

STAR-Barcelona

STAR-Barcelona

Did you know we have an office in Barcelona? 

In 2012, Albert and Alberto, two of our employees, wanted to return to Barcelona having worked in Dundee for some time (Albert holds a PhD from the University of Dundee). STAR-Dundee is a very employee-focused company and was happy for Albert and Alberto to return to Barcelona and continue their work for STAR-Dundee from a different country. We now have three employees in Barcelona, and we intend to increase this number soon! 

This year STAR-Dundee became an employee owned company and, alongside managerial changes, on the 1st of November 2017, Space Technology and Applied Research Barcelona (STAR-Barcelona) was born. STAR-Barcelona is now a subsidiary company of STAR-Dundee.

STAR-Barcelona are soon set to expand, keep an eye out for future opportunities within the team!

The featured image shows our founder and previous CEO (now CTO) Steve Parkes in the process of signing the STAR-Barcelona subsidiary agreement.

Microsemi RTG4 STAR-Dundee Demo Video

The filming of our Video

On the 18th of May 2017 STAR-Dundee took part in Microsemi Space Forum’s North American Online Event.  As a partner of the Space Forum, STAR-Dundee created a video demonstrating SpaceWire and SpaceFibre for the Microsemi RTG4.

Watch the video here:

Microsemi Space Forum partner videos including STAR-Dundee’s were aired between 9:30-10:00, 11:15-12:15, and 14:00-14:30 (PST) on the 18th of May.

For more information and the agenda from the event please see Microsemi’s website: https://www.microsemi.com/spaceforum/space-forum#agenda 

STAR-Dundee also exhibited at Microsemi Space Forum, Europe in Noordwijk, Netherlands, on the 20th of June and Microsemi Space Forum, India at The Leela Palace, Bangalore on the 25th of July and Courtyard Marriott Ahmedabad, India on the 27th of July.

The featured image shows Dylan Drummond from Son of The Sea filming STAR-Dundee Electronics Engineer Pete.

STAR-Dundee awarded Design and Innovation Business of the Year

STAR-Dundee team at Courier Business Awards

Saturday night saw some of Tayside and Fife’s top business talent all in one marquee for the Courier Business Awards 2017.

STAR-Dundee were finalists in three award categories; Design and Innovation Business of the Year, Science and Technology Business of the Year and Enterprise in Education.

We had reason to celebrate right from the beginning as the Design and Innovation Business of the Year was one of the first to be announced and we were delighted to find out that we had won!

Ten STAR-Dundee employees attended to represent the wider team. We enjoyed celebrating STAR-Dundee’s achievements and watching our new CEO Dr Stuart Mills collect the award.

We would like to congratulate fellow spinout from the University of Dundee, Exscientia, on winning Science & Technology Business of the year and being highly commended in the Design and Innovation Business of the year category.

We would also like to congratulate another spinout from the University of Dundee My Diabetes My Way for winning the Enterprise in Education award which was sponsored by Dundee Research and Innovation Services.

The evening highlighted the amazing business community right here in Dundee, which STAR-Dundee is proud to be part of. Having recently transitioned to an employee owned company STAR-Dundee has secured it’s future in the City.

A huge congratulations to all of the finalists and winners. See The Courier today to read more about the evening.

You can also see our tweets from the event here: @STAR_Dundee 

STAR-Dundee Press Coverage October 2017

STAR-Dundee Press Coverage October 2017

STAR-Dundee has recently transitioned to an employee owned company and our story has been shared far and wide by the press including local and national newspapers and websites. The Courier highlighted STAR-Dundee’s move to employee ownership in securing our future in Dundee and The Herald wrote ‘To boldly go: Dundee space tech firm moves into staff ownership’.

Many websites posted the story on their news pages including:  Co-operative NewsDundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce  DIGITEmployee Benefits Website FutureScot Good UniversitySatnews, and Scottish Business News Network.

While the University of Dundee’s School of Science and Engineering and Centre for Entrepreneurship wrote stories on the transition, as well as the Research and Innovation Services sharing the news on social media.

Our new employee owned status means we are now proud members of Employee Ownership Association who also shared our story on their news page.

Alongside this STAR-Dundee are finalists in 3 of the Courier Business Awards 2017. Today’s Courier contains a supplement with more information on the finalists including STAR-Dundee in 3 categories; Design and Innovation Business of the Year, Science and Technology Business of the Year and Enterprise in Education.

We have also recently set up a twitter account where you can keep up to date with STAR-Dundee, follow us here: https://twitter.com/STAR_Dundee

If there are any features that we have missed please let us know by emailing Lucy.Robertson@star-dundee.com and we can add them in as soon as possible.

STAR-Dundee at Space Tech Expo Europe 2017

STAR-Dundee at Space Tech Expo Europe 2017

On the 24-26th of October 2017, STAR-Dundee are attending Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen, Germany.

At stand G11 we will be demonstrating the new STAR Fire Mk3 product, which can act as a SpaceFibre interface, a SpaceWire to SpaceFibre bridge and a SpaceFibre link analyser. STAR Fire Mk3 devices are connected to SpaceWire Brick Mk3 units and we are demonstrating each of these modes of the STAR Fire.

We will also be tweeting from @STAR_Dundee, follow us there for updates.

For more information on Space Tech Expo visit: http://www.spacetechexpo.eu/ and make sure to visit us at our stand G11, view the floor plan here: http://www.spacetechexpo.eu/exhibit/floor-plan/

Employee Ownership Launched at STAR-Dundee

Employee Ownership Launched at STAR-Dundee

Images from left to right: STAR-Dundee employee-owners outside STAR House | Steve Parkes, former CEO, back in the lab as CTO with the new SpaceFibre equipment | Employee Ownership Association Proud to be a member badge |

Aerospace engineering company selects employee ownership to secure future and root business in Dundee

STAR-Dundee is now proudly employee owned and part of the Employee Ownership Association.

STAR-Dundee is an aerospace engineering company which designs electronic components and test equipment for spacecraft. Operating from a beautiful townhouse close to the University of Dundee from which the company spun out in 2002, STAR-Dundee provides the international space agencies and space industry with important equipment. Technology that originated in Dundee is now being used across the world on more than one hundred spacecraft which are monitoring the Earth, exploring nearby planets and asteroids, mapping our galaxy and sensing the further flung parts of our solar system. The ‘SpaceWire’ network technology interconnects sensors and electronic equipment onboard a spacecraft, providing an efficient and versatile means of integrating the equipment together. This is similar to the way in which USB connects peripheral devices to a laptop.

Originating primarily because several organisations wanted to use technology developed by the University of Dundee, STAR-Dundee has grown from an academic and a few enthusiastic research students, who initially worked in their spare time to design and develop the first products. The company now employs 25 people and has offices in both Dundee and Barcelona. STAR-Dundee focuses on what it is good at, the design of electronic equipment and related software, and sub-contracts appropriately skilled manufacturing partners in the UK.

After celebrating our fifteenth year in business this year, and to secure the long-term future for the company, STAR-Dundee was transformed from a company run and majority owned by the founding academic, Prof Steve Parkes, to an employee owned company. Facilitated by a succession planning project initiative by Scottish Enterprise, various options were considered for the company and it soon became clear that employee ownership was the way forward for a company like STAR-Dundee.

Prof Steve Parkes said: “Having formed STAR-Dundee and forged it over 15 years into a company with a worldwide reputation, I realised that I was not going to be around to see it through the next 15 years. It became clear that the future for the company was about the people in the company that had helped make it a success and the culture that we had developed to support that success. Selling the company to another organisation, which would inevitably change the culture and might even move it from its Dundee base, was not a very attractive idea. Employee ownership retains and strengthens the culture and will ensure that it always has a base in Dundee.”

Our management team has been restructured with former CEO Steve Parkes now focusing on technology development as Chief Technology Officer, and Stuart Mills, another company founder and previously Chief Operating Officer, becoming CEO. Carole Carrie, the Administration Manager, is now Company Secretary. These management changes are intended to provide a firm foundation for further growth of the company.

A new technology, SpaceFibre, is currently being launched by STAR-Dundee. Developed over the past ten years, SpaceFibre is designed for high-performance, high-availability applications. SpaceFibre is designed primarily for spacecraft applications, but is creating interest in the robotics, medical equipment and other industries where performance and availability are critical drivers.

Stuart Mills, STAR-Dundee’s new CEO, said: “STAR-Dundee has been a great success because of its people.  Our move to employee ownership allows these individuals to have a greater say in the running of the company and to further benefit from the company’s success.”

Sarah Deas, director at Co-operative Development Scotland, the arm of Scottish Enterprise that supports company growth through collaborative and employee ownership business models, added: “STAR-Dundee’s main priorities when considering its succession options were to secure and strengthen the business, both in terms of its culture and success, and also to ensure the business remains rooted in Dundee. All of these objectives have been achieved through employee ownership as well as making sure the staff all have a meaningful stake in their company and its future success.”

Diane Taylor, Director of Research and Innovation Services at the University of Dundee, said: “STAR-Dundee is a prime example of innovation in University research making a real impact beyond academia. We would like to congratulate the whole STAR-Dundee team, and wish them every success for the future.”

If you would like a copy of our full press release about our transition to employee ownership to include on your website or in your publication please email: Lucy.Robertson@STAR-Dundee.com