IACTEC is dedicated in a big way to the space technology sector, a field in which the IAC has acquired great experience through previous partnerships in European Space Agency (ESA) missions and collaboration with National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), Spain's leading body in this sector.

The IAC has developed instrumentation for the ISO, SOHO, Planck, Herschel, AMS, Solar Orbiter, and Euclid space missions.

IACTEC will boost innovation and development relating to the manufacture of payloads for micro and nano satellites, a growing sector with great repercussions in areas such as communications, security and defense, and environmental management, among others. The initial focus to consolidate the program is earth observation, although in the future the technological capacity acquired will be used to develop space observation projects with this type of satellite. The technologies to be developed with this activity are those related to the design and development of detectors (control, hardware, image pre-processing) and the optical design of high resolution cameras, with an important focus on the selection of new light materials for space, and on the use of advanced ultra- resolution.

These projects focus on the development of solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, taking advantage of the IAC's experience in the analysis of signals and electromagnetic radiation, as well as in advanced image processing and machine learning. The multidisciplinary nature of this program allows us to address various areas of health:

Diabetic Foot: An advanced clinical system is being developed for monitoring diabetic foot, a complex condition that affects millions of people around the world. This project, called PINRELL, combines several innovative technologies, including microwave radiometry (MWR) and infrared thermography, to offer more precise and safer diagnostic and monitoring tools. Microwave Radiometry (MWR) Microwave radiometry, which is used to measure the intensity of electromagnetic waves, is non-invasive and harmless to health. It is a technique that allows measuring subcutaneous temperatures and thermal patterns in depth. This technology uses radiometers, highly sensitive devices, that operate in five frequency bands (1.5 GHz, 2.2 GHz, 2.7 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 4.3 GHz). These multiple frequencies allow us to analyze in greater detail the internal temperature distribution in biological tissues in a way comparable to how it has been carried out in cosmology to measure the cosmic microwave background (CMF).

This map illustrates how in astrophysics, through radiometry, small temperature differences in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMF) have been measured, providing information on the composition and evolution of the universe (credit: Planck satellite of the European Space Agency).

Thermography:

The infrared thermography system is designed to detect and evaluate pathologies associated with the diabetic foot, such as neuropathies. It uses multispectral sensors that include a visible vision and near-infrared camera, along with a thermal camera that measures temperature variations in the skin. Through specialized software, images are acquired and recorded in different spectral ranges, allowing the detection of anomalous temperature patterns that could indicate health problems.

PatologIA: 

We apply machine learning techniques to biopsy image analysis to improve the detection and classification of tumors, such as colon cancer. We collaborate with the University Hospital of the Canary Islands and the University of La Laguna.

Colorectal cancer cytology image. The coincidence between the detections of carcinomas made by the developed DL software (red) and the independent identification made by the HUC pathologist (blue) is shown.

CosmicBrain:

This innovative project combines expertise in cosmology with neuroscience to study brain structure and develop biomarkers for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. We use advanced data analysis techniques, such as bispectrum and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) processing, based on the similarity between the brain structure and the cosmic web.

This methodology has allowed us to advance in the development of a biomarker of the biological age of the brain.

Cosmic network (left) calculated with the web-on code that calculates the skeleton of the cosmic network and the structure of the cosmic voids among other things (credit: Francisco Kitaura). In an analogous way, The human brain is organized in a network called the connectome (right) in which information exchanges occur between nodes of the network.

European Solar Telescope (EST)

IACTEC helps to boost the leading role achieved the Science Industry of Spain, specializing in large telescopes, strengthening its presence in large-scale projects in which Spain collaborates with, and in some cases leads, international consortia.

The IAC is currently participating in the main astronomical telescope projects whose construction is envisaged in the coming years at the Canarian Observatories, such as the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), the European Solar Telescope (EST), and the New Robotic Telescope (NRT), as well as in other international projects, such as the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).

The Large Telescope Programme will analyse the technical synergies (high-precision active systems, mechanical structures, thermal systems, control systems) among these large projects. It will also provide the Science Industry with the requisite support for actively participating in them by helping to identify market niches with projections for future projects, such as the active control of segmented telescopes in robotic telescopes.

An essential component for the collaborative environment of IACTEC is its proximity to huge human capital and the knowledge accumulated by Grantecan S.A. over two decades, during which time that firm has undertaken the design, construction, and operation of the Gran Telescopio Canarias.

The IAC has always been linked to optical communications in free space, both with the construction of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Optical Ground Station (OGS) at the Teide Observatory (OT) and with subsequent research.

Thus, the IAC has participated in the Artemis Project, establishing a bidirectional optical link between the OGS of the OT and various satellite payloads, SMART-1, or compensations for atmospheric aberrations in the rising beam to improve optical communications and laser Guide Star generation. 

In 2021, the free space optical communications group was formally created through IACTEC, which focuses on the development and research of equipment for classical and quantum optical communications in free space. The team's mission is to develop designs, simulations and prototypes for optical communications in free space as well as to promote collaborations in the field of research and development with other partners. The lines of work of the team are focused on:

1) Adaptive Optics. Optical and mechanical design of Adaptive Optics for turbulence compensation in optical communications, both in conventional optical devices and with integrated photonic circuits.

2) Design, manufacture and commissioning of a transportable optical station for classical and quantum communications with adaptive optics.

3) LEO-to-ground communications through payload on satellites owned by IAC.