IRIDIUM SATELLITE PHONE - Cambridge Consultants · 2 IRIDIUM SATELLITE PHONE The brief To redesign...

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The briefTo redesign Iridium’s iconic satellite handset - enhancing performance, adding new features and reducing cost, whilst maintaining full compatibility with existing global satellite infrastructure. In addition, to create a forward-looking technology that would form the basis for new products for Iridium in the future.

We were given one year for the complete product redesign to be released to volume manufacturing, fully verified and approved.


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Understanding the userIridium products represent a lifeline for many of their users. The handsets must provide reliable communication in locations where no other handset in the world can operate. Iridium’s customers require a rugged, dependable design that works effectively, irrespective of whether you’re out at sea, up a mountain or camped at the North Pole.

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Programme definitionA combined programme team was constructed that included Cambridge Consultants, Iridium, its manufacturing partner Celestica, and its satellite operations partner Boeing. Working across multiple time zones, this tightly integrated team moved from product definition and design through to product release. We acted as the design authority for the product, providing direction to Celestica and Boeing for handset-related topics.

Mechanical Design House Chicago IL

Satellite Operations Tempe AZ

Antenna Vendor Los Angeles CA

Network Operations Leesburg, VA

Iridium Headquarters Washington D.C.

Cambridge Consultants Cambridge, UK

Test House Paris, France

Manufacturing Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Plastic Caseworks Shenzhen, China

Approvals Keilor Park, Victoria

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System designAt the heart of any successful, complex, product development lies world-class system design. To design the new handset, we incorporated a range of the latest technologies, making the necessary trade-offs between critical system parameters. The result - achieved by bringing together engineers from a broad range of disciplines - allowed us to create an optimal solution; a product that delivers reliability, functionality, and effective battery-life, whilst being manufacturable within Iridium’s cost parameters.

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Proof of principleCambridge Consultants carefully analysed the definition and feasibility of new features being introduced into the handset. These included functions such as location-based services, an emergency call feature and a new speakerphone that supports hands-free operation in outdoor environments that have a high background noise.

With 20,000 sq ft. of laboratory space, an electronic production lab, and a prototype development centre, we carry out all of this work internally, enabling rapid development times and the highest quality.

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User interfaceIridium’s customers often operate in harsh and challenging environments. Clarity of use is therefore critical and necessitates specific user interface requirements for its professional user-base. We therefore created a control menu architecture that is simple, allowing uncluttered operation in the event of an emergency, whilst still providing access to a range of high performance features.

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Software developmentThe Iridium handset incorporates software that not only provides user interface functionality, but also the complex task of managing and controlling handset operation on the Iridium satellite network. We subjected the prototype handsets to weeks of manual and automated testing - using tools such as our 1.5 TeraFlop radio simulation cluster - to make sure that product quality met the stringent requirements of both Iridium and its users.


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Transfer to manufactureCambridge Consultants assisted Iridium in selecting Celestica as its contract manufacturer and in reducing the product conversion cost. We worked closely with Celestica from the outset of the development to ensure that manufacturing and test capability was inherently built into the design. We defined Celestica’s production test approach and then, following initial builds in our own production facility in Cambridge, supported transfer into high-volume manufacture.


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Technology transferFollowing the successful introduction of the Iridium handset, Cambridge Consultants worked with Iridium to leverage its investment in the product, to realise new product and market opportunities based on the features that we had introduced as part of our forward-looking system design.

One such product was a new maritime product, OpenPort®. Having entered the marine market just 14 months earlier, Iridium is already challenging for leadership in this valuable market segment.


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The Iridium global satellite constellation. A global canopy of 66 satellites constantly moving around the earth, providing complete coverage of every location with a vew to the sky.

Connecting with everything from people at risk, to products in transit, to whale populations across the oceans. And much, much more.


Success is no accidentStarted by three Cambridge University graduates in 1960, Cambridge Consultants has successfully been developing products for clients around the world for over 50 years. We employ more than 300 brilliant people, who are backed up by state-of-the-art tools and systems, and together we share a passion for delivering excellence.

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Proof of principleUnderstanding the user Transfer to manufacture

User feedbackProgramme definition Brand enhancement

Concept developmentConcept definition Technology transfer

Prototype developmentSystem design Ongoing support

User interface

Software development

Integration and test

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The brief

www.CambridgeConsultants.com

Cambridge Consultants is part of the Altran group, a global leader in innovation. www.Altran.com

Cambridge UK • Boston USA • Singapore

IRIDIUM SATELLITE PHONE - Cambridge Consultants · 2 IRIDIUM SATELLITE PHONE The brief To redesign...

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