Session
Technical Session II: Intelligent Software Systems
Abstract
High data rate radio communications between Low Earth Orbit and the surface of the Earth can be achieved with efficient modulation and coding parameters. However, traditional space is a low-volume high-cost business and difficulty in procuring low cost radios in the appropriate spectrum leads to groups selecting lower data rate radios in the ISM or amateur bands. Specialized radio hardware is typically used for each combination of frequency, modulation and power, forcing a high cost point for most radios designed to go in space. Our hybrid hardware and software design for modular radio systems combines both the flexibility of software definition and the performance gains of specialized hardware. This enables flexible modulation and data rates at frequencies up to Ku band with only one family of radios. Therefore, we can rapidly produce low cost radios which meet the requirements of most satellite groups from research to communications and earth observation. In this paper we describe the design of our modular radio system. We will cover the software, electrical, mechanical, and analog considerations for such a design, and we will describe the performance achievable for an example UHF/S-band application.
Presentation
Modular Software Defined Radios for Space to Earth Communications
High data rate radio communications between Low Earth Orbit and the surface of the Earth can be achieved with efficient modulation and coding parameters. However, traditional space is a low-volume high-cost business and difficulty in procuring low cost radios in the appropriate spectrum leads to groups selecting lower data rate radios in the ISM or amateur bands. Specialized radio hardware is typically used for each combination of frequency, modulation and power, forcing a high cost point for most radios designed to go in space. Our hybrid hardware and software design for modular radio systems combines both the flexibility of software definition and the performance gains of specialized hardware. This enables flexible modulation and data rates at frequencies up to Ku band with only one family of radios. Therefore, we can rapidly produce low cost radios which meet the requirements of most satellite groups from research to communications and earth observation. In this paper we describe the design of our modular radio system. We will cover the software, electrical, mechanical, and analog considerations for such a design, and we will describe the performance achievable for an example UHF/S-band application.
