In Organic Photovoltaic field, numerous laboratories are focuses on the first limiting point of the organic PV devices: the low power conversion efficiencies. To solve this issue, lots of efforts are put into the development of low-band gap polymers and optimization of the active layer morphology. However, the second limiting factor, the instability of the devices, is not as investigated. But in the context of building long-lifetime efficient organic solar cells, the understanding of the degradation mechanisms in OPV is as important as the improvement of the devices efficiencies and should go in step with the development of new efficient materials. In this overall context, the aim of the IN-STEP project is to evaluate the robustness of the different device architectures when submitted to different stress, understand the failure of the devices and investigate solutions to improve the robustness of the devices. However, the failure of the device can come from various modifications in the device: morphological changes in the active layer, intrinsic degradation of the materials and interfacial degradation. The IN-STEP project focuses on the degradation mechanism at the interfaces. The project will be divided in two stages. The first stage of the project will be focused on the evaluation of the robustness of different kind of interfaces against various stresses (heat, light, presence of oxygen or water…). The stability of various interfacial layers for hole or electron extraction as well as the type of electrode will be studied under different conditions (light, heat). The aim of this research part is to elucidate the degradation mechanism of the commonly proposed architecture. Indeed, understanding the weakest points of the organic device is the first step of the improvement of their lifetime. To achieve this goal, we plan to build an aging chamber, with in-situ device characterization, in which several atmosphere parameters can be controlled (temperature, light, oxygen level, hygrometry). After having understood the interfaces failure mechanism, the project will aim to proposing solutions to improve the performance stability of the organic solar devices. A way to improve the robustness of the bottom interface is to create of an intimate contact between the active layer and the holes or electron selective layer. The latter can serve multiple purposes, including alignment of energy levels at interfaces for better charge selectivity and robustness of the interface. The idea of this part is to investigate the potentiality in terms of robustness of covalently grafted layer on metal oxides (ITO, electron selective layers or hole selective layers). Such kind of covalently bonded layers should promote the adhesion between the metal oxide and the organic layer and might, in terms, improve the lifetime of the devices.

Destruction of pancreatic beta-cells leads to absolute insulin deficiency in type 1 diabetes and concerns some 15 to 30 million patients. Chronic insulin treatment is mandatory and transplantation represents one therapeutic choice in patients with serious progressive complications of diabetes. Islet cell transplantation is still under development and currently no method has been established to test and evaluate the quality of the islets and their preparation within the short time span (few hours) prior to their transplantation. Our project bridges this important gap in a multidisciplinary approach (diabetology-transplantation medicine/biology-electrophysiology/microelectronics) from bench to bed and bed to bench implying two research groups from CNRS laboratories (Bordeaux), two clinical groups in France (Grenoble, Montpellier) and a third one in neighboring Switzerland (Geneva). The project is innovative, as it employs a novel bio-sensing approach (extracellular recordings of islets on multi-electrode arrays) and relies on real-time data filtering and time-frequency analysis we developed recently and that is capable to provide an extensive analysis in a short time span. The project addresses technological, biological and signal processing challenges that will be of benefit for other biosensor applications, for example rehabilitation of neuronal motor control. The device (ISLETchip) delivered during the project will be able to examine in-vitro a small aliquot (<0.1%) of the islets preparation to be transplanted, to conduct a multi-parametric on-line real-time analysis and to display a diagnostic read-out prior to transplantation. Moreover, the use of such a device will be compatible with the degree of specialization of a general clinical laboratory. Systematic exchange between clinical and fundamental groups will ensure that specifications are exchanged and adapted to the clinical needs. We will provide such a novel bio-microelectronic device for the Health Sciences based on our recently published proofs of principle including an international patent. Within the work packages we will: 1. design and assess the biosensor based on our existing prototype with improvement of the commercial micro-electrodes, design of microfluidics and experimental validation 2. conceive data synopsis by designing algorithms to extract relevant information in the signals recorded from MEAs, implement real-time processing of multiple and parallel channels, asses the validity of obtained data by modeling in an in-silico patient, and design a read-out summary with diagnostics on the characteristics of islet preparations 3. provide aliquots (ca. 0.1%) of transplantable islets for multi-parametric analysis either on the current prototype (DiaBchip in Bordeaux) or on ISLETchip and gather patient data 4. validate the experimental platforms and protocols, provide hands-on training of clinicians to ISLETchip usage, perform user acceptance testing and feedback to designers. This step will provide technology transfer and distribution of the ISLETchip system to the clinical laboratories. 5. Examine data for correlation of parameters with clinical outcome As a major outcome, this multi-parametric approach will allow objective quality control to enhance the success in transplantation and may establish a widely used standard. It shall first help to monitor and improve islet preparation. Second, it will provide an objective criterion for the use of preparations in transplantation and finally it may provide criteria to predict clinical outcome . Thus, the deliverables (ISLETchip and correlative study) are destined to improve patient care in this area of transplantation medicine (but are not phase I !). The approach will remain valid in the case transplantations will be performed using stem-cells as similar functional quality controls should be applied. Our approach will also advance algorithms in the field of continuous glucose monitoring.

When it comes to sensing the environment (RADAR, imaging, seismic, ...), the current trend is to develop acquisition systems that are more and more sophisticated. For example, we can point out an increase in the number of sensors, the use of multiple arrays for either emission or reception, as well as the integration of several modalities like polarization, interferometry, temporal, spatial and spectral information, or waveforms diversity. Obviously, this sophistication is made to enrich the obtained information and to reach better performances compared to classical systems, such as improving the resolution, improving detection performance (especially for low SNR settings), or allowing a better discrimination between physical phenomena. However, the simple transposition of classical process/algorithms in these new systems does not necessary led to the expected improved performances. Indeed, several effects impose to deeply re-derive the modelizations and the processes: - the answer of the sensed environment becomes complex and heterogeneous, - the size of the data is increased, so the estimation of statistical parameters may become difficult, - in systems with multiple modalities, the construction of the data vector is nontrivial, - there are more uncertainties on the model of the useful signal (therefore on its parameterization) The MARGARITA project aims at solving the aforementioned issues by developing new estimation/detection processes for multi-sensors/multi-modal systems operating in a complex heterogeneous environment. These new methods will be based upon the combination of recent tools and advances in signal processing: robust estimation, optimization methods, differential geometry and large random matrices theory. Hence, the project aims at: + integrating an accurate statistical modeling (i.e. handling non Gaussianity and heterogeneity) for estimation/detection problems in large dimension settings. + integrating prior information and model uncertainties in a modern robust estimation/detection framework. + accurately characterizing the theoretical performances of the developed processes. Apart from providing theoretical guarantees, this characterization will also offer tools for system design and specification. + Demonstrating that the proposed tools can be applied in fields that involve modern acquisition systems. We propose to adapt these processes to specific radar applications (STAP, MIMO-STAP, SAR) as well as other civilian applications (Hyperspectral imaging, radio-astronomy and GPR) From a scientifical and technical perspective, this project will: - use tools from the robust estimation framework and the optimization framework (majorization-minimization and optimization on manifolds) to propose new estimators (notably for covariance matrices) that exploit available prior information to counter the large dimension problem. - extend the Bayesian subspace estimation methods to a robust estimation/detection framework in order to integrate uncertainties on the signal model. - exploit the misspecified performance bounds framework to solve the problem of multi-sensors/multi-modal systems calibration. - use recent theoretical tools (large random matrices theory and intrinsic bounds) to characterize the performances of the developed processes.

ULTIMATE is a three-year proposal for an ambitious research project focused on upper limit technology investigations mandatory to attain THz electronics. InP-based transistors are the world’s fastest three-terminal semiconductor devices. Regardless of whether bipolar or field-effect transistors are considered, current gain cutoff frequencies tend to stagnate in the range fT = 500-600 GHz (0.5-0.6 THz). Progress in device design so far relied on semi-qualitative electronic energy band structures interpolated from often incompletely known materials. While standard simulators can predict cutoff frequencies exceeding 1 THz, experiments fall far short from this goal, presumably because strong electric fields within nano-devices drive electrons to higher energy states (L, X valleys) not accounted for in traditional TCAD tools or even Monte Carlo simulators which neglect quantum mechanical transmission effects at barriers. In the ULTIMATE project, for the first time, we will tackle the design of ultrahigh-speed transistors on a fundamental atomistic level, with Density-Functional Theory (DFT) for accurate band structure calculations and quantum transport simulations to break through the present bandwidth bottleneck and finally experimentally achieve 750-1000 GHz cutoff frequencies. The partners of ULTIMATE project are two academic laboratories (IMS-Bordeaux and ETHZ), one industrial laboratory (Alcatel Thales III-V Lab) and a start-up (Xmod technologies). Each of them brings some specific contributions based on an excellent expertise and a high-level research in the fields of InP HBT technology, electrical characterization, Parameter extraction methodology, compact modeling and multi-scale simulation. Such gathering of complementary skills is particularly relevant to provide guideline for technology achievement in order to perform state of the art technology and measurement up to THz. The way around the present fT cutoff frequency bottleneck requires securing and exploiting an intimate knowledge of the electronic structure of the involved materials. To our knowledge, no others have attempted to implement transistors from an atomistic level starting point. The work is unique because it synergistically builds on the leading device processing capabilities of III-V Lab and ETHZ mm-wave device fabrication together with the IMS-Bordeaux up-to date 500GHz S parameters measurements equipment and on the pioneering materials/device simulation expertise the ETHZ team. The entire project chain, from physical modelling to epitaxial growth, device fabrication and characterization is thus entirely within the France-Switzerland area. Density-Functional Theory and quantum transport computations will be performed by ETHZ (Prof. Luisier team) for InP/InGaAs and InP/GaAsSb HBTs. Their fabrication will be identically realized using III-V Lab and ETHZ (Prof. Bolognesi team) fabrication processes respectively. Subsequently, their electrical characteristics will be verified against experimental data measured by IMS and extracted by XMOD. In particular, the band structure of strained heavily carbon-doped GaAsSb and InGaAs layers will be calculated to determine if higher lying valleys (L-minima) become populated and how they affect device dynamic performances. The transistor design will then be adjusted to optimize the injection efficiency of electrons from the GaAsSb or InGaAs base layer into the InP collector and enhance electron transport through both the base and the collector layers to reach cutoff frequencies in the range of 750-1000 GHz. Atomistic simulations will provide new insights on the inner workings of ultrahigh-speed heterostructure transistors and enable the design of a new generation of THz devices. Success is expected in extending the life of transistor electronics to higher bandwidths, a critical outcome because no credible alternative to transistor technology has so far been developed.

It is clear that the impact of the human civilization on the environment should be reduced in the following decades in order to preserve the environment. It is neither ecological nor sustainable to continue using natural resources as it is done at present. An important part (almost a third) of the worldwide energy consumption is dedicated to transportation. It is our opinion that one solution to reduce the energy consumed this way and limit environmental damages is to develop new concepts of transportation systems. Within this project, we will focus on the concept of convertible aircraft, with emphasis on the design of autonomous fault tolerant trajectory tracking control algorithms. A convertible aircraft, as considered in this project, denotes a flying machine capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), such as a multi-copter, but which behaves as a regular air plane during cruise flight. To accomplish this, all convertible aircraft have wings. VTOL can be realized either with thrust vectoring engines or with propeller rotors. The concept convertible aircraft that we intend to use for experimental validation shall be equipped with propeller rotors. Integrating these aircraft in spaces with high population density requires that a certain level of safety be guaranteed, in particular during phases of take-off and landing. It is therefore necessary to implement trajectory control systems that are robust to disturbances, fault tolerant, and capable to generate last resort rescue trajectories ensuring safety for people and habitations. This project aims to contribute to these expectations with the realization of a technological brick capable of running and maintaining the convertible on security transition paths (in nominal and emergency paths) and thus meet future national and international aerial regulations. An initial problem that will be addressed during this project is the modelling of aerodynamic phenomena. This is an essential issue that has to be solved before designing autonomous pilots. We will consider three phases of flight: (a) hover (or stationary) flight, (b) fast forward flight, and (c) transition from hover to fast forward flight (and vice versa). While significant research has been done in the modelling in phases (a) (for conventional multi-copters) and (b) (for conventional air planes) there are very few results describing modelling in phase (c). However, this is a very important aspect in our project and we will address it in an initial phase of the project. The goal being that the convertible aircraft be capable of flying without human pilot intervention from a point A on the map to a point B on a given trajectory (which minimizes energy consumption), in a second phase of this project, we will work on the design of fault tolerant trajectory tracking algorithms. An important aspect of autonomous flight is safety. Under no condition the convertible aircraft should pose a security risk for people, other aircraft or itself. That is why during this project phase we intend to work on the design of fault tolerant control algorithms. With respect to the trajectory planning, an important aspect is conversion from stationary to fast forward flight with minimum dispense of energy. To complete the fault tolerant control design in this project, fault detection algorithms shall be investigated as well. Among possible defects, we will consider the loss of actuators (propeller rotors) or sensors (inertial measurement units). An experimental platform should be used to validate algorithms proposed during this project. Two solutions are considered at this point. The first is to build our own convertible aircraft; the second is to buy one provided that sufficient support would be offered by the manufacturer. Actuator and sensor redundancy in this platform should allow testing different types of defects.