How Can Optical Communications Shape the Future of Deep Space Communications? A Survey

With a large number of deep space (DS) missions anticipated by the end of this decade, reliable and high capacity DS communications systems are needed more than ever. Nevertheless, existing DS communications technologies are far from meeting such a goal. Improving current DS communications systems does not only require system engineering leadership but also, very crucially, an investigation of potential emerging technologies that overcome the unique challenges of ultra-long DS communications links. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been any comprehensive surveys of DS communications technologies over the last decade. Free space optical (FSO) technology is an emerging DS technology, proven to acquire lower communications systems size, weight, and power (SWaP) and achieve a very high capacity compared to its counterpart radio frequency (RF) technology, the current used DS technology. In this survey, we discuss the pros and cons of deep space optical communications (DSOC). Furthermore, we review the modulation, coding, and detection, receiver, and protocols schemes and technologies for DSOC. We provide, for the very first time, thoughtful discussions about implementing orbital angular momentum (OAM) and quantum communications (QC) for DS. We elaborate on how these technologies among other field advances, including interplanetary network, and RF/FSO systems improve reliability, capacity, and security and address related implementation challenges and potential solutions. This paper provides a holistic survey in DSOC technologies gathering 200+ fragmented literature and including novel perspectives aiming to setting the stage for more developments in the field.Comment: 17 pages, 8 Figure

Flight Avionics Hardware Roadmap

As part of NASA's Avionics Steering Committee's stated goal to advance the avionics discipline ahead of program and project needs, the committee initiated a multi-Center technology roadmapping activity to create a comprehensive avionics roadmap. The roadmap is intended to strategically guide avionics technology development to effectively meet future NASA missions needs. The scope of the roadmap aligns with the twelve avionics elements defined in the ASC charter, but is subdivided into the following five areas: Foundational Technology (including devices and components), Command and Data Handling, Spaceflight Instrumentation, Communication and Tracking, and Human Interfaces

Modular architecture providing convergent and ubiquitous intelligent connectivity for networks beyond 2030

The transition of the networks to support forthcoming beyond 5G (B5G) and 6G services introduces a number of important architectural challenges that force an evolution of existing operational frameworks. Current networks have introduced technical paradigms such as network virtualization, programmability and slicing, being a trend known as network softwarization. Forthcoming B5G and 6G services imposing stringent requirements will motivate a new radical change, augmenting those paradigms with the idea of smartness, pursuing an overall optimization on the usage of network and compute resources in a zero-trust environment. This paper presents a modular architecture under the concept of Convergent and UBiquitous Intelligent Connectivity (CUBIC), conceived to facilitate the aforementioned transition. CUBIC intends to investigate and innovate on the usage, combination and development of novel technologies to accompany the migration of existing networks towards Convergent and Ubiquitous Intelligent Connectivity (CUBIC) solutions, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) mechanisms and Machine Learning (ML) tools in a totally secure environment

An investigation into the use of B-Nodes and state models for computer network technology and education

This thesis consists of a series of internationally published, peer reviewed, conference research papers and one journal paper. The papers evaluate and further develop two modelling methods for use in Information Technology (IT) design and for the educational and training needs of students within the area of computer and network technology. The IT age requires technical talent to fill positions such as network managers, web administrators, e-commerce consultants and network security experts as IT is changing rapidly, and this is placing considerable demands on higher educational institutions, both within Australia and internationally, to respond to these changes

Characterizing and Utilizing the Interplay between Quantum Technologies and Non-Terrestrial Networks

Quantum technologies have been widely recognized as one of the milestones towards the ongoing digital transformation, which will also trigger new disruptive innovations. Quantum technologies encompassing quantum computing, communications, and sensing offer an interesting set of advantages such as unconditional security and ultra-fast computing capabilities. However, deploying quantum services at a global scale requires circumventing the limitations due to the geographical boundaries and terrestrial obstacles, which can be adequately addressed by considering non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). In the recent few years, establishing multi-layer NTNs has been extensively studied to integrate space-airborne-terrestrial communications systems, particularly by the international standardization organizations such as the third-generation partnership project (3GPP) and the international telecommunication union (ITU), in order to support future wireless ecosystems. Indeed, amalgamating quantum technologies and NTNs will scale up the quantum communications ranges and provide unprecedented levels of security and processing solutions that are safer and faster than the traditional offerings. This paper provides some insights into the interplay between the evolving NTN architectures and quantum technologies with a particular focus on the integration challenges and their potential solutions for enhancing the quantum-NTN interoperability among various space-air-ground communications nodes. The emphasis is on how the quantum technologies can benefit from satellites and aerial platforms as an integrated network and vice versa. Moreover, a set of future research directions and new opportunities are identified

Optical Networks and Interconnects

The rapid evolution of communication technologies such as 5G and beyond, rely on optical networks to support the challenging and ambitious requirements that include both capacity and reliability. This chapter begins by giving an overview of the evolution of optical access networks, focusing on Passive Optical Networks (PONs). The development of the different PON standards and requirements aiming at longer reach, higher client count and delivered bandwidth are presented. PON virtualization is also introduced as the flexibility enabler. Triggered by the increase of bandwidth supported by access and aggregation network segments, core networks have also evolved, as presented in the second part of the chapter. Scaling the physical infrastructure requires high investment and hence, operators are considering alternatives to optimize the use of the existing capacity. This chapter introduces different planning problems such as Routing and Spectrum Assignment problems, placement problems for regenerators and wavelength converters, and how to offer resilience to different failures. An overview of control and management is also provided. Moreover, motivated by the increasing importance of data storage and data processing, this chapter also addresses different aspects of optical data center interconnects. Data centers have become critical infrastructure to operate any service. They are also forced to take advantage of optical technology in order to keep up with the growing capacity demand and power consumption. This chapter gives an overview of different optical data center network architectures as well as some expected directions to improve the resource utilization and increase the network capacity

Characterization of wavelength tunable lasers for use in wavelength packet switched networks

The telecom industry's greatest challenge, and the optical systems and components vendors' biggest opportunity is enabling providers to expand their data services. The solution lies in making optical networks more responsive to customer needs, i.e., making them more rapidly adaptable. One possible technique to achieve this is to employ wavelength tunable optical transmitters. The importance of tunability grows greater every year, as the average number of channels deployed on DWDM platforms increases. By deploying tunable lasers it is much easier to facilitate forecasting, planning and last minute changes in the network. This technology provides with solution for inventory reduction. It also offers solution for fast switching at packet level. The conducted research activities of the project was divided in two work packages: 1. Full static characterization-the laser used in the experiment was a butterfly-packaged Sampled Grating DBR laser with four electrically tunable sections. LabView programme was developed for distant control of the equipment and the laser itself. The parameters required for creating a look-up table with the exact currents for the four sections of the laser, namely wavelength, side mode suppression ratio and output power, were transferred to tables. Based on those tables the currents were defined for each of the 96 different accessible channels. The channel allocation is based on the 50 GHz spacing grid. A detailed analysis of the tuning mechanisms is provided. 2. Dynamic characterization and BER performance in wavelength packet switched WDM systems-a commercially available module was used supplied with the software package for controlling the wavelength channels and setting the laser to switch between any accessible channel. The laser is DBR laser without SOA integration so the dynamic tunability can be investigated. As the switching in the nanosecond regime is executed in the electrical domain, analysis of the switching parameters concerning the electrical circuit as well as laser structure is provided. The actual switching time was defined. The degradation in system performance due to spurious wavelength signals emitted from the tunable module during the switching event and their interference with other active channels was demonstrated by examining the presence of an error floor in the BER rate against received power measurements