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A protocol chosen to secure communications with quantum computers

Publication Date

16 May 2025

Category

Research

Tag

DISC

Researcher

Scientific publication

Teacher researcher

HQC: French technology at the heart of post-quantum cybersecurity

In 2016, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States launched a major international appeal to design the cryptographic systems of the future, capable of withstanding the power of quantum computers. These machines of the future could render obsolete the current protections for our communications, whether on the Internet, military networks or even satellites.

Among the solutions proposed, a 100% French protocol stood out: HQC (Hamming Quasi-Cyclic). Designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers, HQC enables two parties to share a secret – even if their exchange is being spied on – and then use it to encrypt their communications.

This ambitious project is being led by a consortium headed by Philippe Gaborit from the University of Limoges, joined by researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC. Together, they have contributed to the development, optimisation and validation of this “post-quantum” cryptography solution.

International recognition

NIST recently announced the selection of HQC for future standardisation. This is a major achievement for this protocol, which is set to become a pillar of global cybersecurity for decades to come, particularly in sensitive sectors such as telecommunications.

Toulouse expertise on the front line

The success of HQC is based on the key contributions of several researchers from Toulouse:

Carlos Aguilar, a professor in the DISC department at ISAE-SUPAERO from 2018 to 2022, is one of the founding members of the project. He was involved in the initial design of the algorithm and was one of the project’s main supporters throughout the standardisation phase.

Jérôme Lacan, also a professor at ISAE-SUPAERO, worked on the error coding and decoding mechanism, an essential component of the system.

Arnaud Dion, a teacher-researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO, produced a hardware implementation of the protocol on an integrated circuit, demonstrating its performance against other competing solutions.

We implemented the entire encryption/decryption algorithm directly in an integrated circuit. The aim was twofold: to prove that this algorithm could be embedded in a chip dedicated to cybersecurity, and to demonstrate its concrete performance. This meant completely rewriting the code to make it compatible with a hardware architecture, while ensuring that this implementation could be easily reproduced by an industrial company.

An international team coordinated by Limoges

Coordinator : Philippe Gaborit, University of Limoges

HQC project partners (4ᵉ round):

Carlos Aguilar Melchor (SandBox)
Nicolas Aragon (University of Limoges - Xlim Institute)
Slim Bettaieb, Loïc Bidoux (Technology Innovation Institute, UAE)
Olivier Blazy (École Polytechnique - CNRS/LIX)
Jurjen Bos (Worldline, NL)
Jean-Christophe Deneuville (ENAC, University of Toulouse)
Arnaud Dion, Jérôme Lacan (ISAE-SUPAERO, University of Toulouse)
Edoardo Persichetti (Florida Atlantic University, US)
Jean-Marc Robert, Pascal Véron (University of Toulon - Mathematics Institute)
Gilles Zémor (University of Bordeaux - Bordeaux Mathematics Institute)

DCAS

Lasbordes Air Operations Center (COAL)

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DCAS

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

The ISAE-SUPAERO flight operations center at Lasbordes airfield has a fleet of 8 light aircraft for teaching and research in the fields of flight mechanics and neuroergonomics.

The fleet is comprised of:

4 Aquila two-seater single-engine aircraft dedicated to initial flight instruction
3 single-engine, four-seater DR400s dedicated to initial flight instruction, training ISAE-SUPAERO students, and research activities
1 twin-engine Vulcanair P68 Observer 2, currently being instrumented for student training and research activities

This aircraft is equipped with a telemetry system, enabling a flight to be followed in real time from the institute’s classrooms. It also features sensors capable of recording the pilot’s eye activity (eye trackers), brain activity, and more. Versatile, with a large payload capacity, it can also be fitted with optical sensors via a hatch under the fuselage.

The COAL maintenance unit is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the aircraft, fleet maintenance, and regulatory monitoring of airworthiness.

It also prepares and examines aircraft modification files required for research and training flights.

COAL's Activities

Pilot training on light aircraft, open to engineering cycle and master’s students.
Practical work in flight mechanics and initiation to flight test techniques for students and continuing education.
Research flights in the field of human factors and any other area requiring in-flight sensors.

Vélis électro

Robin DR 400

Neuroergonomics activity

Stéphane Juaneda, pilot & instructor

Neuroergonomics activity

Cockpit

Stéphane Juaneda & Etienne Perrin

Job Offers

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Thesis Offers

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Internship Opportunities

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DCAS

Design and Operation of Aerospace Vehicles Department (DCAS)

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DCAS

PhD

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Teacher researcher

At ISAE-SUPAERO, the Design and Operation of Aerospace Vehicles Department (DCAS) develops methods, simulation tools and experimental platforms for the design and operation of aerospace vehicles.

Our Research Department

The Department of Aerospace Vehicle Design and Control (DCAS) develops training and research activities to meet the scientific challenges of tomorrow’s air transportation and future space systems. It conducts cutting-edge research and develops advanced technologies, ranging from human-machine interactions to the integrated multidisciplinary design of aircraft or advanced space concepts, via system control and control laws.

Our research incorporates environmental and socio-economic aspects, such as reducing environmental impacts (fuel consumption, noise, emissions), optimising design cycle times and operational costs, increasing the safety of aerospace systems, and improving the efficiency of man-machine systems.

Permanent staff

Doctoral students, post-doctoral students and engineers

Aircraft

Sponsorship chairs

At DCAS, we design the aerospace systems of the future, integrating performance, sustainability and safety. Our research combines advanced technologies, systems intelligence and environmental responsibility to reinvent air and space transport.

Valérie Budinger Head of Department

Our Research Activities

DCAS is structured into 4 scientific groups:

Decision and Control (DC): Dynamic and operational behaviour models, synthesis of control laws and sequential decision algorithms.
Aeronautical Vehicle Design and Flight Dynamics (CADV ): Aircraft design, flight dynamics, aircraft operation and certification, sustainable air transportation
Space Systems Design (CSS): Orbital systems, mission analysis, space systems design and optimisation, space exploration and access to space
Humans, Systems and Interactions (HSI ): Monitoring and optimisation of human performance in contexts of interaction with natural or technological environments

They work collaboratively on the following 3 interdisciplinary themes:

The aims of this theme are to carry out research into the identification and control of degraded flight situations:

Aircraft/drone: Critical flight situations (e.g. departure from flight envelope, inconsistency of complex parameters/pannes, sub-system failures)
Crew/operator: Borderline cognitive states (e.g. attentional tunnelling, perseveration, fatigue)
Guaranteeing control performance that is independent of uncertainties and parametric variations
Defining 'intelligent' control and supervision processes to optimise flight safety
Developing an adaptive control and driving system that is robust to failures

With the help of the many resources made available by the department - DCAS simulators, flying platforms (TB20, etc.), Neuroergo-lab, indoor aviary - this theme enables DCAS to innovate in the field of human factors (with the development of adaptive cockpits) and automation/decision: Fail-safe laws, self-reconfigurable control system for sub-system failures.

Through various fields such as flight mechanics, aircraft design (multiphysics and multi-domain modelling), and automatic control, this theme aims to define methods and algorithms for optimal integrated design, aerodynamic models, structure, propulsion, and environmental models; and study the strong and weak couplings between models.

The resources that are being developed, such as the Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimisation (MDAO) design workshop and the flight demonstrator, are enabling innovation, with applications for the design of the BWB flying wing, distributed propulsion, the design of long-length aircraft, the design of sub-systems (electric de-icing systems, demonstrators), and implementation of a complete Multi-domain Modelling, Simulation, and Analysis workshop under the OpenMDAO framework.

The management of space debris and autonomous missions to asteroids are all issues targeted by this theme, which aims to study future concepts that are typically possible within a timeframe of 15 years or more, such as in-orbit servicing for telecommunications satellites, space traffic management, the architecture of manned bases on the surface of the Moon or Mars, etc.

Through systems engineering and automation, with the help of space systems design software suites integrating the tools already available at DCAS, this theme addresses the following points: Adaptation and/or development of design methods, with particular emphasis on the concept of interface, architecture of large structures for manned exploration missions, formalization of trajectories and attitude control from the launch phases to the rendezvous phases in LEO, GEO and LP orbits.

DCAS is involved in national and European research projects and works with a large number of industrial partners (major groups, SMEs, startups).

Decision and Control Scientific Group - DC

Research Themes

Theme 1: Methods and tools for modelling and controlling aeronautical and space systems and vehicles
- Synthesis of robust control laws for driving vehicles in severe conditions
- Control of aeronautical systems and vehicles meeting flight quality, certification, and energy consumption criteria
- Estimation and control of the flexible modes of high elongation structures
Theme 2: Decision-making under uncertainty, mission planning
- Secure and robust on-line planning for the autonomy of aerospace systems
- Improving the adaptability and safety of multi-agent systems
- Human-centred design of heterogeneous collaborative aerospace systems

Aeronautical Vehicle Design and Flight Dynamics Scientific Group - CADV

Research Themes

Theme 1: Preliminary aircraft design
- Exploration of innovative aerostructure architectures
- Exploring new propulsion architectures
- Operability and maintainability of new architectures
- Safety and certifiability of new architectures
- Design of electromechanical de-icing systems
Theme 2: Modelling and assessment of technologies and scenarios for air transport in the context of decarbonisation and transition
- Modelling the air transport system (fleet renewal, use of alternative fuels, economic models)
- Development of climate models
- Assessment of the environmental impact of decarbonisation solutions for air transport over their entire life cycle

Space Systems Design Scientific Group - CSS

Access to space: physical modelling and design of new-generation liquid rocket engines
Astrodynamics and mission analysis: modelling and optimisation of trajectories in non-Keplerian environments
Robotic and manned space exploration combining systems engineering, space system design, on-board autonomy and human factors
Sustainability of space activities

Human, Systems and Interactions Scientific Group - HSI

Understanding brain function and human performance
Cognitive performance in stressful situations or during ageing
Massive data analysis applied to brain function
Development of brain-machine interfaces
Design of innovative integrated sensors for monitoring the state of the operator in extreme environments

Sustainable Aviation

DCAS has developed AeroMAPS, an open source tool for modelling transition trajectories for the aviation sector, the result of three years of research within the department. Initially designed under the name CAST, this reference tool can be used to assess the climate impact of aviation, by integrating variables such as traffic volume, energy consumption and the type of fuel used.

Innovative and multidisciplinary, AeroMAPS takes into account all the climatic effects of aviation, beyond CO₂ alone, including contrails and nitrogen oxide emissions. Aimed at research, training and experts and decision-makers in the sector, it helps to inform strategic choices in connection with international commitments to combat climate change. With this work, ISAE-SUPAERO is asserting its active role in the public debate on the future of aviation.

Our Research Projects

STOL and VTOL control
Guidance and navigation strategy planning for UAVs in urban environments
Hybrid hydrogen-powered regional aircraft
Aviation carbon trajectories
Design and optimisation of high aspect ratio wings
Low-consumption electromechanical de-icing systems
Mitigation of space debris
Reusable launchers
Real-time monitoring of human performance

DCAS Scientific Publications

Digital Thread-Based Optimisation Framework for Aeronautical Structures: A Vertical Tail Plane Use Case

de Longueville Sébastien, Bouvet Christophe, Bénard Emmanuel, Jézégou Joël, Gourinat Yves, Digital Thread-Based Optimisation Framework for Aeronautical Structures: A Vertical...

10 Jan 2025 Dynamic UAV trajectory optimisation for parcel delivery with integrated third-party risk mitigation

Aldao, Enrique, Veiga-López, Fernando, Ponzoni Carvalho Chanel Caroline, Watanabe Yoko, González-Jorge, Higinio, Dynamic UAV trajectory optimisation for parcel delivery with...

05 May 2025 FIT-SLAM 2: Efficient 3D exploration with Fisher information and traversability-based adaptive roadmap

Saravanan Suchetan, Bains Anaïs, Ponzoni Carvalho Chanel Caroline, Vivet Damien, FIT-SLAM 2: Efficient 3D exploration with Fisher information and traversability-based...

09 Sep 2025 Data-driven multifidelity surrogate models for rocket engines injector design

Zapata Usandivaras Jose Felix, Bauerheim Michaël, Cuenot Bénédicte, Urbano Annafederica, Data-driven multifidelity surrogate models for rocket engines injector design. 2025,...

17 Nov 2025 Understanding Pilot Attention and Awareness With Eye-Tracking : Aerospace Psychology and Human Factors : Applied Methods and Techniques

Causse Mickaël, Behrend Julia, Mumaw Randall, Understanding Pilot Attention and Awareness With Eye-Tracking : Aerospace Psychology and Human Factors :...

01 Jan 1970

Access OPEN SCIENCE and find all our publications, theses, scientific instruments and technology platforms

Our Resources

The vast majority of these resources are managed by the technical group, which develops and implements a range of hardware platforms and software tools:

Flight simulators (human factors research, flight mechanics training, piloting)
An aeronautical software suite (flight mechanics, aircraft design, flight tests)
A space software suite (orbitography, satellite energy subsystem, launchers, ground stations)
UAVs and UAV systems
Satellite ground segments (rooms and ground stations for satellite projects)

Certain platforms are used/developed in conjunction with other technical teams:

The flight test software platform and the flight management software are developed with the Lasbordes flight operations centre
The autonomous systems room is used and developed with the technical group of the Complex Systems Engineering Department (DISC) at ISAE-SUPAERO

Aeronautical Sector

The DCAS technical group is developing a software suite for teaching and research in the field of aeronautics.

These include tools for simulating aircraft movement (Longisim and Transsim), calculating performance or aiding design (Alcazar), and in-flight training with the TB20 instrumented aircraft (TB20 system). A final piece of software (Activol) provides flight management for the aircraft at the Lasbordes Air Operations Centre.

Flight mechanics: LONGISIM/TRANSIM software

These two software packages are dedicated to the study of the longitudinal and lateral movements of the aircraft. They allow simulations to be carried out according to the type of aircraft and flight characteristics (responses to steps, curves, 3D, etc.).

Aircraft design: “ALCAZAR” software

Alcazar is a software package for the complete study and design of an airliner. Weight estimates, fuselage sizing (number of seats per class, etc.), wing geometry, empennage, thrust settings, etc.

Numerous visualisations allow you to see the results of the design throughout the process.

Flight tests / Flight dynamics: The TB20 System

The “TB20 System” is a software package which, from an instrumented TB20 aircraft (25 parameters in telemetry), enables flight parameters to be displayed in real time or off-line: Flight dynamics teaching (in flight or on the ground), flight tests.

Flight management: ACTIVOL software

ACTIVOL is the software used for the day-to-day management of flights at Lasbordes. Statistics are extracted for the annual activity reports.

In the field of aeronautics, a wide range of equipment is available at the DCAS: Flight simulators (PEGASE, 6MOUV), a drone design workshop, and drone flying platforms.

PEGASE flight simulator

PEGASE: Platform for Experiments on Generic Aircraft Simulation Environment

This simulation platform, halfway between high-end simulation (6-axis training simulators) and individual computer simulation, is ideal for teaching flight mechanics and research into human factors.

This generic simulator can simulate any type of aircraft. The basic model for the activities is the Airbus A300.

Developments are fully managed by the DCAS technical group, which means that the platform can be adapted to any need arising from the scientific teams (research, experimentation, demonstrations, teaching, etc.).

Features

- Controls: Top-of-the-range equipment with pilot/copilot mini-sticks, rudder pedals, A320 throttles + trim wheels, FCU, MCDU.
- EFIS/ECAM A320 cockpit displays: Primary Flight Display, Navigation Display, Engine Warning Display, Flight Control. They are multiplatform and reusable for other projects.
- 3D visualisation: A panoramic 3D visualisation provides a view of the outside world. It comes from the FlightGear open-source simulator, but has been adapted to meet requirements (particularly for the HUD: Head Up Display).
- Movement: A 3-axis hydraulic system reproduces movement (pitch, roll, height).
- Audio server: Alarms, engines, animations (slats and flaps up/down, landing gear, rain, etc.).

6MOUV flight simulator

6MOUV is a single-seat, 3-axis platform, light aircraft (DR400) simulator based on Flight Simulator software.

Drones

Workshop

A workshop dedicated to the final phase of drone design is run at the DCAS.

UAVs

A number of stationary UAVs developed at DCAS have been produced in the workshop (VisionAir, ScolAir, ScanAir). A fixed-wing flying platform is currently being developed (ExpAir, for the ExpeDrone project).

Space Sector

The DCAS technical group is developing a software suite for teaching and research in the space sector.

These include tools for the simulation and design of space systems: SatOrb, SimuSat and SimuLaunch.

SATORB software

SatOrb is a complex multi-satellite, multi-station orbitography and mission analysis software package. It allows 2D and 3D display of satellites and constellations, as well as multiple analyses of access, visibility, coverage, and radio link assessments.

SIMUSAT software

SimuSAT is a software package for simulating a satellite's energy sub-system. The available modules also enable attitude control and simplified simulation of thermal behaviour. This constantly evolving software, combined with Satorb, is a powerful tool for simulating a complete space system.

SIMULAUNCH

Simulaunch is a simulator dedicated to the design of launchers and the study of their trajectory during launch.

DCAS also has space hardware resources: A ground station in Toulouse (UHF/VHF), a ground station in Cayenne (S-band), and a control centre for its nanosatellite projects, which is designed to be simple and generic.

UHF/VHF -T ground station

The ISAE-SUPAERO teams have a ground station for exchanging digital data with the satellite they want, in UHF/VHF, whether in uplink (remote controls) or downlink (telemetry). The station can operate autonomously and collect data from the satellite automatically. A room is dedicated to this ground station in Toulouse.

Ground station (S-band)

ISAE-SUPAERO has had an S-band station since 2000. For technical reasons, it was installed in Cayenne. In cooperation with MIT and RIKEN, it provided a network of ground stations located on the equator to respond to on-board-ground link problems, due in particular to the platform's equatorial orbit.

SCC: Simple Control Center

The control centre manages all the data exchanged between the satellite and the ground segment using lightweight, high-performance software tailored to the university context and state-of-the-art in terms of both data processing and man-machine interface. It is a robust, stable, reusable tool that complies as far as possible with existing European (ECSS) and international (CCSDS) standards.

Job offers

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Thesis offers

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Internship opportunities

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DISC

Theory, Modelling, and Systems Engineering (ThéMIS) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

The “Theory, Modeling and Systems Engineering” (ThéMIS) scientific group is dedicated to the study and development of advanced methods for the design, modeling and validation of complex systems.

Our Research Areas

Our mission is to respond to the challenges posed by the design of increasingly integrated, autonomous, and mission-critical systems, by combining theoretical research, modelling methodology, and the implementation of engineering processes.

ThéMIS aims to develop robust and innovative solutions based on an interdisciplinary approach combining modelling, optimisation, and validation. We work with academic and industrial partners to meet the needs of critical sectors and innovate the technologies of tomorrow.

The ThéMIS research group carries out research in the following areas:

Theory

Preliminary design of complex systems and exploration of the design space
Architecture and trade-off analysis
Semantics of models and formal verification and validation (V&V) methods
System resilience (e.g. identification of obsolescence risks)
Technology forecasting and roadmapping

Modelling

Model-based systems engineering (MBSE)
Links with functional safety analysis (MBSA) and multidisciplinary optimisation (MDAO)
Model transformation and integration of validation and verification tools

Engineering Process

Integration of MBSE, product lifecycle management (PLM) and lifecycle analysis (LCA) methodologies

The research carried out by the ThéMIS research group has applications in the following areas:

Space (ground segment, vehicles, satellites)
Autonomous vehicles (drones, robots, intelligent cars)
Complex socio-technical systems (infrastructure management, human-machine interaction)
Critical embedded systems and cyber-physical systems (safety, reliability and performance in constrained environments)

Jonathan : Security evaluation of large distributed and reconfigurable systems
Charles MATHOU: Global methodological framework for safety analysis of UAV systems
Abdoulaye SARR: Multidisciplinary analysis and optimisation of a hydrogen-powered aircraft
Charlotte STROBBE: Design of user-centred systems combining MBSE and HSI
Augustin GALLOIS: Eco-design of a Lunar Habitat
Ariane BEAUDOIN-BUSSIÈRES : Forecasting for dual technological innovation in strategic ecosystems
Haochen GAO: Participatory design tools and systemic methods for multimodal air-rail systems
Valentin MORDEL: Fault tolerance and reliable reconfiguration in an automotive HPC/ZCU architecture
Maisa CIETTO: Identification and modelling of inefficiencies in the air transportation system

Sophie LEMOUSSU : A model-based approach for innovative SMEs in the aeronautics industry
Sébastien SCHWARTZ : Coupling deterministic and non-deterministic simulation for predictive maintenance
Juan José MONTERO JIMENEZ: Knowledge reuse to improve system architecture for predictive maintenance
Eric-Guillaume VIDOT: Towards the certification of avionics systems based on machine learning: using mathematical proofs to guarantee reliability
Anass AKRIM : Prediction of remaining lifetimes of aeronautical components using deep learning approaches
Ombeline AIELLO: Early validation of system designs using a joint engineering approach based on models and optimisation
Sophia SALAS CORDERO: Early phases of complex system design: obsolescence considerations from an MBSE perspective
Eric RAZAFIMAHAZO: A systems engineering approach to the design of multi-use systems on mission inside buildings
Morgan GAUTHIER: Architectural optimisation of automotive applications on MpSoC components
Laetitia BORNES: Interactive systems engineering between design science and design as science

Faculty members

Theses in progress

Theses defended

Our Classes

The members of the ThéMIS group are involved in ISAE-SUPAERO’s educational programmes: the general engineering programme, industrial engineering speciality programme by apprenticeship, Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and various Advanced Master® (AM) programmes.

The group manages the MAE Systems Engineering major (around 30 students/promotion) and the Systems Engineering AM (around 10 students/promotion).

Members of the group are involved in other activities, in particular directing the Systems Doctoral School at the University of Toulouse.

Our Projects

New design, analysis, and qualification methods to ensure drone certification.

Formal verification methods for space systems. Development of the model-checker integrated into ESA's TASTE development platform (https://taste.tools), in collaboration with UGA/Verimag, GMV, and ESA/ESTEC.

Integrated Air Transport System chair with Thalès Group: this sponsorship, research, and teaching chair draws on ISAE-SUPAERO's expertise in optimising the flight operations and systems approach, and on the Thalès Group's expertise in flight avionics, connectivity, and air traffic control.

Our Permanent Members

Iulian Ober

Head of Themis Group

iulian.ober@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

Our Partners

Industry Partners

Academic Partners

Job Offers

Check out the vacancies for scientific staff in the research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

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DISC

Learning, Decision, Optimisation (ADO) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

Our Research Areas

Our work focuses on decision support systems, from the collection of data to its interpretation, in order to make the best decision.

Our common scientific question is: ‘What are the models and algorithms that lead to a learning or decision-making process?’

To answer this question, the ADO group draws on and contributes to the techniques of artificial intelligence (reinforcement learning, evolutionary algorithms, constraint programming) and industrial engineering (operations research, knowledge management, systems engineering).

The applications of the research carried out within the ADO research group are in the following fields:

Aeronautics and Space: Earth Observation and Autonomous Vehicles
Production systems: System configuration and workshop programming
Industry X.0: Preventive maintenance

Doctoral and post-doctoral students

Researchers

Research areas

Teaching modules

Our Classes

Our research group is heavily involved in ISAE-SUPAERO‘s top-quality educational programmes, both in the engineering cycle curriculum and in the Masters programmes. We are fully committed to teaching, offering courses that combine theory and application, to ensure that students receive an education based on the latest scientific and technological advances.

We encourage and promote participation in research projects to enable our students to develop the practical and methodological skills that are essential in the field of decision support systems.

We are involved in the following modules:

Third-year Decision Sciences course
Data and Decision Sciences pathway
Industrial Engineering pathway

F-SD320 Supply Chain
F-SD321 Production
F-SD322 Modelling and Simulation
F-SD323 Quality and IS

F-SD311 Machine Learning
F-SD312 Big Data
F-SD313 Digital Eco. Digital
F-SD314 Case Studies
F-SD319 Seminars

Our Partners

Thomas Oberlin

Head of ADO Group

thomas.oberlin@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 89 37

Job Offers

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Thesis Offers

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Internship Opportunities

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DISC

Applied Mathematics (MA) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

Our Research Areas

One of the main fields of study, which brings together almost all these themes, is the theoretical and numerical study of problems related to fluid-structure interactions.

These research activities are carried out in collaboration with the major players in Toulouse: The Toulouse Mathematics Institute (Paul Sabatier University-INSA), ONERA and the Clément Ader Institute (ICA), as well as with other national and international partners.

The Applied Mathematics (MA) research group comprises seven faculty members and one research engineer.

Contributions are mainly made to the following research themes:

*The division presented below is not strict: Interactions exist.

In this research area, we are interested in various aspects of the control and stabilisation or stability of solutions to partial differential equations. To be more precise:

Control of partial differential equations
Fluid-Structure Interaction
Hamiltonian systems with interaction ports (pHS)

The idea behind interaction port Hamiltonian systems is to describe the dynamics of a system using the physical energy of the system (called the Hamiltonian).

In particular, this makes it possible to deal with non-linearities (non-quadratic Hamiltonian) in general. Analysis of the associated Cauchy problem is still an active research topic in the case of infinite-dimensional systems (typically non-linear partial differential equations).

Interaction ports classically consist of co-located control and observation (among other things), enabling different pHs to be coupled. The resulting system is still a pH. There are algebraic structures subordinate to pHs: Dirac structures.

Numerical simulation of pHs calls for special numerical methods to preserve the Hamiltonian (or, more precisely, the existence of a Dirac structure associated with the discretized system).

It should also be noted that closed-loop stabilisation is easily obtained in pHs, and that they also allow, at least in finite dimension, constraints to be taken into account in the form of algebraic equations coupled to the dynamical system.

Fractional and Diffusive Differential Systems (SDF)
Well-Posed Linear Systems (WPLS)

This area of research focuses on numerical optimisation and multidisciplinary optimisation in the context of pre-project design. To be more precise:

Development and analysis of optimization algorithms (deterministic and stochastic)
Solving large linear systems and preconditioning
Uncertainty propagation (UQ)
Sensitivity analysis
Substitution models
High-Performance Computing (HPC)

This area of research focuses on the application of probability and statistics to practical problems encountered by industry. To be more precise:

Performance analysis of communication networks
Sensitivity analysis
Random trees

Our Partners

Michel FOURNIE

Head of MA Group

michel.fournie@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

Job Offers

Check out the vacancies for scientific staff in the research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

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DISC

Design and Analysis of Critical Systems (CASC) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

The “Design and Analysis of Critical Systems” (CASC) scientific group focuses on methods, processes and tools to support System Engineering and Systems Engineering.

Our Research Areas

The Critical Systems Analysis and Design (CASC) group focuses on methods and tools to support systems engineering, with the following objectives:

To extend the state of the art in terms of software dependability, from the design of the initial model to the hardware target, as well as in the definition and use of support tools for formal simulation/verification.
To contribute to the definition and formal modelling of new system architectures, and to the integration of new software functionalities such as those arising from AI.

The CASC group covers several facets of software-intensive system engineering: design, verification, and validation of critical systems, deployment on hardware targets, and, finally, distributed and real-time simulation.

Our contributions are applied to aeronautics and space, but also more broadly to embedded and cyber-physical systems. These contributions are presented through publications on OpenScience and software, some of which can be freely distributed.

The CASC group is organised around two research themes:

The Formal Methods and Dedicated Languages theme is concerned with the formal semantics of programming languages as well as programs and their specifications, applied particularly to languages adapted to the design of critical embedded systems.

The use of formal methods (programme proofs, SAT/SMT methods, correction by construction, etc.) for the rigorous design of avionics functions can be applied to the various stages in the design and implementation of a product: architecture consistency verification, proof of correct operation of model transformation/code generation tools, and proof of correctness of the application code to be embedded.

The study of dedicated languages (synchronous reactive, probabilistic, etc.) and their semantic aspects will ensure that programmes can be embedded for the implementation of avionics functions, for example, taking into account the strong requirements and constraints of the field, both in terms of computing resources and the implementation of advanced AI-based functions (neural networks or learning by Bayesian inference).

The Architecture and Simulation of Cyber-Physical Systems theme focuses on the V&V stages of critical systems, particularly in conjunction with the PRISE platform.

New avionics architectures: taking into account new processor and network paradigms and their safe integration into an avionics platform (SMARTIES project)
Embeddability of applications on hybrid architectures (CPU, GPU and FPGA), in particular neural networks and their complex decision tasks
Systems simulation based on state-of-the-art tools
- Real-time distributed simulation, through the implementation of the HLA standard by the CERTI middleware developed in partnership with ONERA. CERTI implements versions 1.3 and 1516 of the HLA simulation standard.
- Interoperability and coupling of simulation models for cyber-physical systems, with the Ptolemy-HLA tool. This distributed co-simulation environment couples two open-source tools, Ptolemy II and CERTI/HLA. It takes advantage of Ptolemy's calculation models and the HLA standard for interoperability and deterministic distribution of simulations.

Our Team

Permanent Team Members

7 PhD Students

Xavier Thirioux

Head of CASC Group

xavier.thirioux@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

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DISC

Connected Systems (SysCo) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

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DISC

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PhD

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Science

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Our Research Themes

To meet the Institute’s teaching needs, the SYSCO research team’s skills cover all the fields of application of networks and connected systems in the various aerospace contexts.

The global vision developed by the team has made it possible to identify three major research themes on which research efforts have been focused for several years:

Satellite networks: Secure and deterministic data transmission
Embedded systems and networks: Design and performance analysis of embedded systems and networks subject to deterministic and security constraints
Distributed systems: Reliable and secure large-scale distributed storage

Each teacher-researcher contributes to at least two of the team’s three research themes, which makes it possible to generate multiple collaborations and cross-disciplinary contributions in addition to results focused on one area.

In addition, several collaborations with members of the department’s other research groups and other departments (notably DEOS) are also prolific.

This research work has been put to good use in a number of ways over the last 5 years:

Supervision of more than twenty doctoral and post-doctoral students
Publication of around a hundred scientific papers and international patents
Setting up three research platforms: Ireal/Satenet for satellite networks, Blockchain 4 UAV for distributed systems, and Factoring for embedded networks
Participation in more than a dozen research projects with industrial and academic partners, including regional projects, ANR projects, industrial projects (TAS, Thales Avionics, AIRBUS), CNES R&T, and projects with the Institut de Recherche et de Technologie (IRT) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Our Scientific Challenges

The main scientific issues that we are considering in order to advance the state of the art in our work in each of these research areas are:

For Satellite Networks

Large-scale multi-orbit dynamic system and its heterogeneity with terrestrial networks
Improving the security of communication protocols using post-quantum cryptography
Definition and integration of secure routing with deterministic QoS guarantees (throughput, delay)

For Embedded Networks and Systems

Heterogeneous hardware architectures and a variety of access control mechanisms
Joint SW and HW approach for deterministic execution on multicore/manycore
Definition and analysis of scheduling strategies for embedded applications
Definition and analysis of security mechanisms adapted to real-time networks
Methods for evaluating the security/performance trade-off

In Distributed Systems

Ensuring scalability, data integrity, and mitigation of cyber-security risks
Implementation of cybersecurity mechanisms and post-quantum cryptography
Definition of 'zero knowledge' mechanisms for blockchains and peer-to-peer networks
Integration of erasure codes to ensure the reliability and integrity of distributed storage

Team Members

Ahlem MIFDAOUI (Team Leader)

Oana HOTESCU

Real-time and satellite networks
Routing, QoS

Marina DEHEZ CLEMENTI

Cryptography and Cybersecurity
Blockchains

Jonathan DETCHART

Cryptography and reliability
Distributed Systems/Blockchains

Jérôme LACAN*

Cryptography and Cybersecurity, Blockchains
Satellite networks, Routing, QoS

*Head of DISC

Michaël LAUER

Real-time Networks and Systems
Dependability, OS

Tanguy PERENNOU

Distributed Systems/Blockchains
Dependability

Ahlem MIFDAOUI

Head of SysCo Group

ahlem.mifdaoui@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

Our Partners

Academic Partners

At the National Level

L’équipe SARA

L'équipe IVC

L'équipe IRT

Le département ONERA/DTIM

L'équipe LabSoc

At the International Level

State and Industrial Partners

Job Offers

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DMSM Research

DMSM at the Clément Ader Institute (ICA)

Publication Date

05 May 2025

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DMSM

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In 2019, 90 researchers and associate researchers are organising and coordinating their activities in four research groups:

MSC: Composite Materials and Structures
SUMO: Surface, Machining, Materials, and Tools
MS2M: Modelling of Mechanical Systems and Microsystems
MICS: Measurement, Control, and Monitoring

The DMSM is involved in three of these four research groups: MSC, SUMO and MS2M.

Involvement in MSC Group Activities

Four DMSM professors carry out their research activities within the Composite Materials and Structures group of the ICA, mainly in the SIMU area, but also in certain areas of the MAPP area.

Area 1 – Structures, Impact, Modelling, Machining (S.I.M.U.):

Theme 1: Impact – crash
Theme 2: Behaviour modelling
Theme 3: Machining

Area 2 – Materials, Properties, and Processes (M.A.P.P.):

Theme 1: Process simulation
Theme 2: Emerging processes
Theme 3: Tooling
Theme 4: Innovative materials and methods for the multi-scale study of properties

Certain activities related to composites, but also to the themes of other research groups in the laboratory, are also addressed by the team within the ICA’s transversal UMM and ASM research areas. The team is developing partnerships with academic and industrial players, sometimes around structuring French or European multi-partner projects (ANR, FUI, etc.), or regional projects.

Our Main Projects

National: ANR (MANSART, VERTEX, VULCOMP1, VULCOMP2, FUI (AXSPAD, PLUME S3L, SAMBA, S3PAC)
European : ALCAS

Our Partners

Academic Partners

Industry Partners

Involvement in SUMO Group Activities

Three DMSM professors contribute to and co-lead the research activities for the Surface, Machining, Materials, and Tooling group (Groupe SUMO).

Area 1 – Fatigue, Modelling, Damage and Wear (F.A.M.E.U.):

Theme 1: Analysis of interfacial heat exchanges
Theme 2: Tribology and hot and cold wear
Theme 3: Modelling behaviour and service life under thermomechanical loads

Area 2 – Properties of Use and Microstructures of Advanced Materials (P.U.M.A.):

Theme 1: Mechanisms of plastic deformation and microstructural evolution in relation to macroscopic properties
Theme 2: Damage and ageing under mechanical, thermal, and environmental stresses

Area 3 – Machining and Shaping (Usi.M.e.F):
Theme 1: Improving machining quality
Theme 2: Optimised tool positioning on left-hand surface, optimised machining strategy
Theme 3: Digital chain for tool design and serviceability: Virtual Lab®.

Our Resources

Experimental: Stereo-correlation, microscopy (MO, SEM, EDX), fatigue machines (uniaxial and multiaxial), instrumented nano-indenters, etc,
Numerical: ABAQUS, LS-DYNA, NASTRAN, Z-set (Zébulon, Zmat).

Our Partners

Involvement in MS2M Group Activities

Ten DMSM professors contribute to and co-lead the research activities of Axis 1 and Axis 2 of the Mechanical Systems and Microsystems Modelling Group (MS2M Group):

Axis 1 – Systems and Microsystems Engineering (I.S.M.):

Theme ISM1: Optimal multidisciplinary design or design under uncertainty
Theme ISM2: Microfluidics and mechanical microsystems
Theme ISM3: Embedded systems, mechanical assemblies and actuators

Area 2 – Integrity of Structures and Systems (ISS):

Theme ISS1: Vibration dynamics of structures and systems
Theme ISS2: Structures under severe loads
Topic ISS3: Numerical developments in structural design

Our Partners

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ISAE-SUPAERO researchers explore the quantum universe

Publication Date

05 May 2025

Category

Research

Tag

DISC

Researcher

Scientific publication

Teacher researcher

At the crossroads of disciplines, quantum shapes the future

Quantum computing: first steps, communications security in focus

” Quantum computing is based on completely different foundations to classical computing and represents a revolution that could change the world,” comments Arnaud Dion, a teacher and researcher in embedded systems.

Quantum computing will, for example, enable the optimisation of processes such as the programmed maintenance of aircraft for companies with very large fleets, and increased reliability beyond weather forecasts, particularly for agriculture, transport and energy production. In the field of health, these developments will accelerate our understanding of diseases and improve the precision of treatments, as well as simulating increasingly complex molecules.

The second quantum revolution will rapidly revolutionise computer security as we know it today. Researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO’s Complex Systems Engineering Department have been involved for nearly 10 years in a cryptography research programme initiated by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST – USA). Launched in 2016, this campaign to standardise new algorithms has included projects submitted by ISAE-SUPAERO and its partners.

Hamming Quasi-Cyclic (HQC), a protocol developed by researchers at ISAE-SUPAERO, ENAC, the University of Limoges and other universities, has just been selected to meet the future threats posed by quantum computers. This technology will ensure the security of digital exchanges in the fields of telecommunications and sensitive networks. This choice marks a decisive turning point in the history of cryptography and places HQC at the heart of global cybersecurity.

” When quantum computers are operational in 10 to 15 years’ time, they will unlock codes in a matter of hours. If we don’t take an interest in post-quantum cryptography now, IT infrastructures could collapse overnight,” says Arnaud Dion.

The Institute is also developing a quantum computing research activity to explore space and aeronautical applications such as image analysis and orbital probe trajectography, which could be envisaged in the future.

Quantum communications networks and signal processing: research on the move

At the heart of the Electronics, Optronics and Signal Processing (DEOS) department, researchers have been working for several years on quantum telecommunications and laser links in free space. Their interest focuses on ground satellite communications, the effects of which are being modelled and quantum entanglement links are being tested.

“From an experimental point of view, we have our own satellite laser link / infra-red bench on the ground satellite links. The experiment using entangled photons, which is currently used for teaching practical work in quantum physics based on the work of Alain Aspect (winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize), will in the future be used to develop our research “, explains Angélique Rissons, professor and head of the DEOS department.

Meryem Benammar, a researcher specialising in information theory, is working on physical layer security techniques. She is particularly interested in the generation of secure keys to connect users, while ensuring their resistance to attacks and interception by spy networks.

We are developing algorithms for extracting secure communication keys that are useful in quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes,” she explains.

These codes are based on quantum sources of randomness such as entangled photons or photon polarisation, and are by construction robust to quantum computers, unlike mathematically generated keys. The practical applications of satellite-transmitted QKD schemes are large-scale, as they offer the opportunity to distribute quantum sources over long distances via optical communication links. In fact, Europe is leading major projects to develop its own quantum key distribution networks.

In terms of training, ISAE-SUPAERO, in partnership with ENSEEIHT, ENAC and INSA Toulouse, is offering 3rd year engineering students the ‘Advanced Communication Systems’ Master’s degree, one of the few courses to address the security of the physical layer for research purposes.

From basic research to collaborative projects: the next stage

At ISAE-SUPAERO, the expertise and disciplinary advances in the field of quantum physics are now making it possible to build bridges between the various specialists.

In the future, all these skills will be put to good use on cross-disciplinary subjects through applied theses in conjunction with industrial partners.

Fundamental research, which increasingly combines the sciences of telecommunications, signal processing and quantum computing, is evolving towards engineering.

ISAE-SUPAERO will have its place at the heart of these technologies!

A protocol chosen to secure communications with quantum computers

HQC: French technology at the heart of post-quantum cybersecurity

International recognition

Toulouse expertise on the front line

An international team coordinated by Limoges

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