History

"Together, we are exploring new things, pushing boundaries and pioneering new technologies."

Just how successful the institute has been in this since it was founded is demonstrated by its involvement in numerous pioneering developments and projects in the aerospace industry.

The beginnings of the Institute of Communications and Navigation date back to 1964 - the early days of space travel in Germany.
The design of the first German research satellite 625 A-1 (AZUR) began in 1962. AZUR was to study cosmic radiation and its interaction with the magnetosphere as well as the inner Van Allen belts.

AZUR
AEROS
SYMPHONIE
HELIOS

1964

Philipp Hartl founded the Space Systems working group

Tasks:
Coordination of DVL activities in the first German satellite project AZUR,
Conception of data processing and telemetry,
Specification of the on-board and ground systems

The central importance of electronics for the successful execution of scientific experiments and for the function of their carriers, the satellites, space probes and high-altitude rockets, soon became apparent.

In 1966, the DVL (Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt - a DLR predecessor organization) founded the Institute for Satellite Electronics, which emerged from the Space Flight Systems working group, in order to close the gap identified here. The new institute's fields of work were the electronic instrumentation of scientific experiments and their integration into a space-capable payload, the processing and transmission of scientific data to the ground, as well as the quality assurance of the electronic components and systems used.

1966

Conversion to the Institute for Satellite Electronics

Main areas of work:
On-board instrumentation for sounding rockets, satellites and space probes;
Information transmission for telemetry and telecommand links as well as for satellite maritime radio,
coding and modulation,
circuit technology,
quality assurance of electronic components,
Sensor technology and image processing for remote sensing

With a ship campaign in 1968, the field of satellite-based digital communication was added to the field of research for the first time. Even then, the institute proved that it could contribute to pioneering technologies. A satellite-based maritime distress call system emerged from the approaches of this first communication mission, which later went into operation worldwide as INMARSAT Standard-E.

At the end of the 1960s, sensor technology and image data processing for earth exploration were added. In the following years, the Institute was involved in all of Germany's space projects: the AZUR satellite project with the associated high-altitude rocket experiments, AEROS (research into the Earth's atmosphere), SYMPHONIE (the first European telecommunications satellite) and HELIOS (German-American solar probe).

With its pioneering work, the institute had created the conditions for German industry to build up expertise in the field of space electronics. By the mid-1970s, the Institute had reached a stage where it was able to hand over this field of work, including quality assurance, to industry.

1970 - Aerial view of the Oberpfaffenhofen site
In the mid-1960s, large new office buildings were constructed - including one for the Institute for Satellite Electronics. In 1969, the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V (DVL) employed 800 people at the site, plus an additional 100 external employees (contractors). By way of comparison: when it "moved back in" at the end of 1955, it had 30 employees.
Image: 1/6, Credit:
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Antennenmesslabor in Oberpfaffenhofen
Reise in die Vergangenheit: Das Antennenmesslabor des "Forschungszentrums Oberpfaffenhofen"
Image: 2/6, Credit:
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1974 - HELIOS-Strukturmodell bei der Vorbereitung des Spin-Tests
HELIOS war ein Gemeinschaftsprojekt der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und der USA zur Erforschung der Sonne. Deutschland baute die Sonden und die USA stellten die Trägerraketen sowie Unterstützung mit dem Deep Space Network. Es wurden zwei Raumsonden gestartet - HELIOS A am 10.12.1974 und HELIOS B am 15.1.1976.
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1976

Renamed Institute of Communications Engineering

Concentration on the fields of work:
Communication systems, message theory, image processing and circuit technology

After the merger of DFL, DVL, AVA and GfW into a "unified company", many research areas were double and triple staffed. For this reason, the institute was restructured and parts of the Institutes for Satellite Electronics and Aviation Radio and Microwaves became a new Institute of Communications Engineering. The renaming initiated a process of concentration on specialist areas of communications engineering that were relevant to aerospace.

Beginning of the 80s

Development of the first European GPS receiver at the Institute

1985

Time experiments on the D1 mission (Spacelab on Shuttle):

(one-way and two-way time transfer, verification of relativistic corrections, experiments to determine the position of Spacelab and ground stations

1986

first digital voice transmission from airplane to ground

1989

The soft-output Viterbi algorithm - an innovation in the field of coding processes. This became one of the most important milestones in the development of digital transmission technology.

90s

With optical free-space communication, the institute has already taken up another topic of the future and is now one of the leading research institutions in this field.

1994

The satellite modem designed at the Institute for variable bit rates of up to 8 Mbit/s was implemented by industry and used in the INTELSAT ground station.

1996

The multi-carrier CDMA process was patented. It was of fundamental importance for 4th generation mobile communications (4G) and terrestrial aeronautical radio.

ca. 1997

Standardization of the hierarchical coding and modulation process developed at the Institute for terrestrial digital television DVB-T

1995-2000

Conducting preliminary studies on a European navigation system

2000

Renamed the Institute of Communications and Navigation

The subject area of navigation was reassigned to the institute. The number of employees increased significantly due to reorganizations at the DLR sites in Oberpfaffenhofen and Neustrelitz. The reorganization also brought a new name.

2002

Spin-off of the company TriaGnoSys GmbH

2003

Definition of the Galileo system time

2005

Information transmission with light: the first laser downlink succeeds - from a stratospheric balloon to the optical ground station in Oberpfaffenhofen.

2006

Optical connection from the Japanese satellite KIRARI to the ground station in Oberpfaffenhofen .

 

In January 2006, the signals from the first Galileo experimental satellite GIOVE-A were evaluated using the 30-meter antenna in Weilheim.

2007

First proof of the digitally steerable antenna for satellite communication in the Ka-band successfully demonstrated in ground and flight experiments.

2008

The institute demonstrates an optical connection between an airplane and the ground for the first time.

 

Appointment as DLR Center of Excellence for Safety of Life Communications

2009

Spin-off of the company ViaLight Communications Gmbh, today Mynaric AG

 

In the Foot-SLAM (SLAM = Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) project, the institute is demonstrating how precise pedestrian navigation in buildings can be achieved with the help of inertial sensors

2010

World's first demonstration of network-coded bidirectional communication in a satellite system

 

First RCAS prototype successfully tested in real trains (RCAS = Railway Collision Avoidance System)

 

GALANT receiver: First demonstration of a robust multi-antenna receiver for Galileo signals

 

Appointment as DLR Center of Excellence for Satellite Navigation

seit 2011

Contributions and work to establish a system with which maritime PNT data (PNT = Position, Navigation and Timing) can be provided in an interference-free manner. Important steps have been taken towards standardization by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). (Neustrelitz)

 

First quantum key distribution from an airplane to an optical ground station - a success for which the scientists were awarded the Erwin Schrödinger Prize in 2015.

 

GBAS CAT III - New navigation system successfully tested and demonstrated in flight trials with ATTAS

 

DLR presents world's first LDACS demonstrator

2012

Spin-off of the company Intelligence on Wheels GmbH

 

Proposal and initial flight tests to demonstrate the APNT capability of LDACS1 (LDACS-NAV)

 

The robustness of the GALANT receiver against interference signals is demonstrated in a measurement campaign carried out in 2012, in which the "NEWARK interference scenario" is simulated.

2013

Inauguration of the new building for the Institute of Communications and Navigation

 

Experimental testing of an operational composite clock for calculating the deviation of atomic clocks and system time.

 

Demonstration of a multi-channel population warning system for disaster situations with integration of various satellite links

 

First demonstration of a laser link from a jet fighter to a ground station over a distance of more than 60 km and at a flight speed of 850 km/h.

 

First demonstration of the Networking the Sky concept using the A320 ATRA research aircraft for integrated communication of all existing and future data links in the aircraft

2014

First stage of a reliable warning and forecasting system for disruptions to technical systems caused by solar storms developed (Neustrelitz)

 

Experimental verification of Channel-SLAM: Utilization of multipath propagation allows paradigm shift in mobile radio-based navigation

2015

First dual-frequency and dual-constellation GBAS flight tests successfully conducted

 

Development of cooperative FootSLAM for indoor navigation

 

Initiation of the standardization of LDACS by the ICAO

2016

The Institute of Communications and Navigation celebrates its 50th anniversary

 

First direct train-to-train data communication between high-speed trains for the virtual coupling of trains

 

World record - optical transmission with 1.72 terabit/s, world record - 2018 with 13.16 terabit/s

2018

Inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame (DLR & Mynaric)

 

First demonstration of swarm navigation with a fleet of 6 rovers

2019

First flight of LDACS with first demonstration of cyber-secure applications

 

First demonstration of swarm exploration to locate gas sources

 

First measurements of radio propagation between drones in an urban environment

2020

Start of the standardization of VDES

2021

First demonstration of magnetic field-based train navigation across Germany