Session
Session XI: Advanced Technologies 3
Abstract
Robust Radio Frequency (RF) Communication Systems (COMMS) are vital to the success of every satellite mission. But, most RF COMMS links are subject to a wide variety of signal impairments, many of which are particularly acute with small satellites. Powerful RF COMMS modeling and simulation techniques have emerged to assure the performance of these vital communications systems. Even greater assurance is possible when real-world RF signals are directly generated by the same modeling and simulation systems, and are liberally used for component-level and full-system test. For effective and full-coverage flight COMMS and/or ground COMMS testing, RF Channel Simulators must augment traditional Test & Measurement gear such as signal generators, spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes. RF Channel Simulators enhance flight COMMS and ground COMMS tests with signal and carrier Doppler effects, as well as range attenuation, range delay, Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) and interference. Inserted in the lab within Intermediate Frequency (IF) or RF signal paths, RF Channel Simulators create signal impairments that precisely match the RF path perturbations that will be experienced when the communications devices are actually deployed. Use of RF Channel Simulators increases mission confidence through deeper testing, minimizes design and test time, and reduces system over-design that can occur when low-fidelity simulations are employed.
Presentation Slides
Advanced Hardware-In-the-Loop RF Testing Assures Communication System Mission Success
Robust Radio Frequency (RF) Communication Systems (COMMS) are vital to the success of every satellite mission. But, most RF COMMS links are subject to a wide variety of signal impairments, many of which are particularly acute with small satellites. Powerful RF COMMS modeling and simulation techniques have emerged to assure the performance of these vital communications systems. Even greater assurance is possible when real-world RF signals are directly generated by the same modeling and simulation systems, and are liberally used for component-level and full-system test. For effective and full-coverage flight COMMS and/or ground COMMS testing, RF Channel Simulators must augment traditional Test & Measurement gear such as signal generators, spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes. RF Channel Simulators enhance flight COMMS and ground COMMS tests with signal and carrier Doppler effects, as well as range attenuation, range delay, Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) and interference. Inserted in the lab within Intermediate Frequency (IF) or RF signal paths, RF Channel Simulators create signal impairments that precisely match the RF path perturbations that will be experienced when the communications devices are actually deployed. Use of RF Channel Simulators increases mission confidence through deeper testing, minimizes design and test time, and reduces system over-design that can occur when low-fidelity simulations are employed.
