BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//pretalx//pretalx.kicad.org//ARDDAY
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:CET
BEGIN:STANDARD
DTSTART:20001029T040000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=10
TZNAME:CET
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
DTSTART:20000326T030000
RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYDAY=-1SU;BYMONTH=3
TZNAME:CEST
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
END:DAYLIGHT
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:pretalx-kicon-europe-2026-ARDDAY@pretalx.kicad.org
DTSTART;TZID=CET:20260907T160000
DTEND;TZID=CET:20260907T163000
DESCRIPTION:KiCad is used to design an incredible variety of electronics. A
 t APC\, a CNRS research laboratory in Paris\, we use it to develop readout
  electronics for cosmology and astrophysics instruments that operate under
  vacuum\, in the radiation environment of space\, and sometimes at cryogen
 ic temperatures.\n\nFor ESA's ATHENA space mission\, currently under devel
 opment\, we are designing compact rigid-flex PCBs that must fit within a h
 ighly constrained mechanical assembly while satisfying the reliability req
 uirements imposed by ECSS space standards. In particular\, the final shape
  of the flexible sections must be accurately predicted before manufacturin
 g to ensure proper integration\, while avoiding overly conservative design
 s that increase mass and occupied volume.\n\nTo address this challenge\, w
 e developed\, together with internship student Martin Prêle\, a physics-b
 ased tool to predict the 2D deformation of rigid-flex PCBs from their geom
 etry and boundary conditions. The predictions were validated experimentall
 y on fabricated PCBs\, showing excellent agreement with measured shapes.\n
 \nIn this talk\, I will present how a practical PCB design challenge encou
 ntered in the development of space electronics led us to combine KiCad-bas
 ed design workflows with physics-based mechanical modeling. The resulting 
 approach enables more compact and predictable rigid-flex PCB designs.
DTSTAMP:20260921T061009Z
LOCATION:Main Stage
SUMMARY:Predicting and Optimizing Flex PCB Shapes for Space Electronics - M
 anuel Gonzalez
URL:https://pretalx.kicad.org/kicon-europe-2026/talk/ARDDAY/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR