Title: Building on basic metagenomics with complementary technologies

Studies show that the number of debris in Low Earth Orbit is exponentially growing despite future debris release mitigation measures considered. Especially, the already existing population of small and medium debris (between 1 cm and several dozens of cm) is today a concrete threat to operational satellites. A ground based laser solution which can remove at low expense and in a non-destructive way hazardous debris of decimetric size around selected space assets appears as one highly promising answer. This solution will be studied in the frame of CLEANSPACE project which is a part of the FP7 space theme. The overallmore » CLEANSPACE objective is threefold: to propose an efficient and affordable global system architecture, to tackle safety regulation aspects, political implications and future collaborations, to develop affordable technological bricks and to establish roadmap for the development and the future implantation of a fully functional laser protection system. This paper will present the CLEANSPACE project.« less

Artificial neural networks are systems based on special algorithms derived from the field of neuroscience. These networks display interesting features such as generalization, massive parallelism, learning, fault tolerance, and others. Until now, researchers have depended on computer simulations, sometimes conducted on dedicated computers, to generate most of their neural net research work. They used microprocessors to implement neural networks because of their small size and low price, high-level performance, and low power dissipation. Now, however, the authors realize that integrated neural networks are needed for decentralized or mobile systems and for robotics, prosthetics, or automotive applications in the expanding areamore » of microelectronics. Neural networks, therefore, should also be available as microelectronic components.« less