Modular Software-Defined Radio

<p>In view of the technical and commercial boundary conditions for software-defined radio (SDR), it is suggestive to reconsider the concept anew from an unconventional point of view. The organizational principles of signal processing (rather than the signal processing algorithms themselves) are the main focus of this work on modular software-defined radio. Modularity and flexibility are just two key characteristics of the SDR environment which extend smoothly into the modeling of hardware and software. In particular, the proposed model of signal processing software includes irregular, connected, directed, acyclic graphs with random node weights and random edges. Several approaches for mapping such software to a given hardware are discussed. Taking into account previous findings as well as new results from system simulations presented here, the paper finally concludes with the utility of pipelining as a general design guideline for modular software-defined radio.</p

Technology demonstrator of a novel software defined radio-based aeronautical communications system

YesThis paper presents the architectural design, software implementation, the validation and flight trial results of an aeronautical communications system developed within the Seamless Aeronautical Networking through integration of Data links Radios and Antennas (SANDRA) project funded by the European 7th Framework Aeronautics and Transport Programme. Based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) techniques, an Integrated Modular Radio (IMR) platform was developed to accommodate several radio technologies. This can drastically reduce the size, weight and cost in avionics with respect to current radio systems implemented as standalone equipment. In addition, the modular approach ensures the possibility to dynamically reconfigure each radio element to operate on a specific type of radio link. A radio resource management (RRM) framework is developed in the IMR consisting of a communication manager for the resource allocation and management of the different radio links and a radio adaptation manager to ensure protocol convergence through IP. The IMR has been validated though flight trials held at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany in June 2013. The results presented in the paper validate the flexibility and scalability of the IMR platform and demonstrate seamless service coverage across different airspace domains through interworking between the IMR and other components of the SANDRA network.European Commissio

Evolution of a Reconfigurable Processing Platform for a Next Generation Space Software Defined Radio

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)Harris Ka-Band Software Defined Radio (SDR) is the first, fully reprogrammable space-qualified SDR operating in the Ka-Band frequency range. Providing exceptionally higher data communication rates than previously possible, this SDR offers in-orbit reconfiguration, multi-waveform operation, and fast deployment due to its highly modular hardware and software architecture. Currently in operation on the International Space Station (ISS), this new paradigm of reconfigurable technology is enabling experimenters to investigate navigation and networking in the space environment.The modular SDR and the NASA developed Space Telecommunications Radio System (STRS) architecture standard are the basis for Harris reusable, digital signal processing space platform trademarked as AppSTAR. As a result, two new space radio products are a synthetic aperture radar payload and an Automatic Detection Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver. In addition, Harris is currently developing many new products similar to the Ka-Band software defined radio for other applications. For NASAs next generation flight Ka-Band radio development, leveraging these advancements could lead to a more robust and more capable software defined radio.The space environment has special considerations different from terrestrial applications that must be considered for any system operated in space. Each space mission has unique requirements that can make these systems unique. These unique requirements can make products that are expensive and limited in reuse. Space systems put a premium on size, weight and power. A key trade is the amount of reconfigurability in a space system. The more reconfigurable the hardware platform, the easier it is to adapt to the platform to the next mission, and this reduces the amount of non-recurring engineering costs. However, the more reconfigurable platforms often use more spacecraft resources. Software has similar considerations to hardware. Having an architecture standard promotes reuse of software and firmware. Space platforms have limited processor capability, which makes the trade on the amount of amount of flexibility paramount

Miniature EVA Software Defined Radio

As NASA embarks upon developing the Next-Generation Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Radio for deep space exploration, the demands on EVA battery life will substantially increase. The number of modes and frequency bands required will continue to grow in order to enable efficient and complex multi-mode operations including communications, navigation, and tracking applications. Whether conducting astronaut excursions, communicating to soldiers, or first responders responding to emergency hazards, NASA has developed an innovative, affordable, miniaturized, power-efficient software defined radio that offers unprecedented power-efficient flexibility. This lightweight, programmable, S-band, multi-service, frequency- agile EVA software defined radio (SDR) supports data, telemetry, voice, and both standard and high-definition video. Features include a modular design, an easily scalable architecture, and the EVA SDR allows for both stationary and mobile battery powered handheld operations. Currently, the radio is equipped with an S-band RF section. However, its scalable architecture can accommodate multiple RF sections simultaneously to cover multiple frequency bands. The EVA SDR also supports multiple network protocols. It currently implements a Hybrid Mesh Network based on the 802.11s open standard protocol. The radio targets RF channel data rates up to 20 Mbps and can be equipped with a real-time operating system (RTOS) that can be switched off for power-aware applications. The EVA SDR's modular design permits implementation of the same hardware at all Network Nodes concept. This approach assures the portability of the same software into any radio in the system. It also brings several benefits to the entire system including reducing system maintenance, system complexity, and development cost

Hardware implementation of a versatile low-cost mixed-signal platform for SDR experimentation

This paper presents the design of a reconfigurable mixedsignal platform used in the Software Defined Radio context.It is a single board part of a pre-existing modular system operating from 1.6 to 2.5 GHz that supports GSM1800,DCS1800, PCS1900, UMTS-FDD, UMTS-TDD and 802.11b standards. Its purpose is to facilitate configuration and data exchange between a computer and an RF transceiver. Technical choices, design and overall performances of the prototype are discussed

LTE Spectrum Sharing Research Testbed: Integrated Hardware, Software, Network and Data

This paper presents Virginia Tech's wireless testbed supporting research on long-term evolution (LTE) signaling and radio frequency (RF) spectrum coexistence. LTE is continuously refined and new features released. As the communications contexts for LTE expand, new research problems arise and include operation in harsh RF signaling environments and coexistence with other radios. Our testbed provides an integrated research tool for investigating these and other research problems; it allows analyzing the severity of the problem, designing and rapidly prototyping solutions, and assessing them with standard-compliant equipment and test procedures. The modular testbed integrates general-purpose software-defined radio hardware, LTE-specific test equipment, RF components, free open-source and commercial LTE software, a configurable RF network and recorded radar waveform samples. It supports RF channel emulated and over-the-air radiated modes. The testbed can be remotely accessed and configured. An RF switching network allows for designing many different experiments that can involve a variety of real and virtual radios with support for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna operation. We present the testbed, the research it has enabled and some valuable lessons that we learned and that may help designing, developing, and operating future wireless testbeds.Comment: In Proceeding of the 10th ACM International Workshop on Wireless Network Testbeds, Experimental Evaluation & Characterization (WiNTECH), Snowbird, Utah, October 201

Openwifi : a free and open-source IEEE802.11 SDR implementation on SoC

Open source Software Defined Radio (SDR) project, such as srsLTE and Open Air Interface (OAI), has been widely used for 4G/5G research. However the SDR implementation of the IEEE802.11 (Wi-Fi) is still difficult. The Wi-Fi Short InterFrame Space (SIFS) requires acknowledgement (ACK) packet being sent out in 10μs/16μs(2.4 GHz/5GHz) after receiving a packet successfully, thus the Personal Computer (PC) based SDR architecture hardly can be used due to the latency (≥100μs) between PC and Radio Frequency (RF) front-end. Researchers have to do simulation, hack a commercial chip or buy an expensive reference design to test their ideas. To change this situation, we have developed an open-source full-stack IEEE802.11a/g/n SDR implementation — openwifi. It is based on Xilinx Zynq Systemon-Chip (SoC) that includes Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and ARM processor. With the low latency connection between FPGA and RF front-end, the most critical SIFS timing is achieved by implementing Physical layer (PHY) and low level Media Access Control (low MAC) in FPGA. The corresponding driver is implemented in the embedded Linux running on the ARM processor. The driver instantiates Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) defined by Linux mac80211 subsystem, which is widely used for most SoftMAC Wi-Fi chips. Researchers could study and modify openwifi easily thanks to the modular design. Compared to PC based SDR, the SoC is also a better choice for portable and embedded scenario

Software-defined radio using LabVIEW and the PC sound card: A teaching platform for digital communications

Different modulation techniques and protocols require a standard communications laboratory for engineering courses to be equipped with a broad set of equipment, tools and accessories. However, the high costs involved in a hardware-based laboratory can become prohibitively expensive for many institutions. Software simulations alone can replicate most real-world applications with much lower costs. Nevertheless, they do not replace the real-world feeling provided by hardware-based systems, which can produce and receive physical signals to and from the exterior media. Advances in computer technology are allowing software-defined radio (SDR) concepts to be applied in many areas of communications. In this type of system, the baseband processing is performed completely in software while an analog RF front end hardware can be used for RF processing. The use of a software-defined radio platform in a digital communications laboratory can offer the benefits of software simulations coupled with the enthusiasm presented by hardware-based systems. A low-cost software-defined radio teaching platform implemented in LabVIEW using the personal computer sound card was developed for a digital communications laboratory along with a set of exercises to help students assimilate the concepts involved in communications theory and system implementation. This system allows for the generation, reception, processing, and analysis of signals in a 4 QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) transceiver using the personal computer sound card to transmit and receive modulated signals. This teaching platform provides the means necessary to explore the theoretical concepts of digital communication systems in a laboratory environment. National Instruments\u27 LabVIEW graphical programming environment allows a more intuitive way of coding, which helps students to spend more time learning the relevant theory concepts and less time coding the applications. Being a flexible and modular system, modifications can be made for optimization and use with different and/or more complex techniques

NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013

Topics include: Cloud Absorption Radiometer Autonomous Navigation System - CANS, Software Method for Computed Tomography Cylinder Data Unwrapping, Re-slicing, and Analysis, Discrete Data Qualification System and Method Comprising Noise Series Fault Detection, Simple Laser Communications Terminal for Downlink from Earth Orbit at Rates Exceeding 10 Gb/s, Application Program Interface for the Orion Aerodynamics Database, Hyperspectral Imager-Tracker, Web Application Software for Ground Operations Planning Database (GOPDb) Management, Software Defined Radio with Parallelized Software Architecture, Compact Radar Transceiver with Included Calibration, Software Defined Radio with Parallelized Software Architecture, Phase Change Material Thermal Power Generator, The Thermal Hogan - A Means of Surviving the Lunar Night, Micromachined Active Magnetic Regenerator for Low-Temperature Magnetic Coolers, Nano-Ceramic Coated Plastics, Preparation of a Bimetal Using Mechanical Alloying for Environmental or Industrial Use, Phase Change Material for Temperature Control of Imager or Sounder on GOES Type Satellites in GEO, Dual-Compartment Inflatable Suitlock, Modular Connector Keying Concept, Genesis Ultrapure Water Megasonic Wafer Spin Cleaner, Piezoelectrically Initiated Pyrotechnic Igniter, Folding Elastic Thermal Surface - FETS, Multi-Pass Quadrupole Mass Analyzer, Lunar Sulfur Capture System, Environmental Qualification of a Single-Crystal Silicon Mirror for Spaceflight Use, Planar Superconducting Millimeter-Wave/Terahertz Channelizing Filter, Qualification of UHF Antenna for Extreme Martian Thermal Environments, Ensemble Eclipse: A Process for Prefab Development Environment for the Ensemble Project, ISS Live!, Space Operations Learning Center (SOLC) iPhone/iPad Application, Software to Compare NPP HDF5 Data Files, Planetary Data Systems (PDS) Imaging Node Atlas II, Automatic Calibration of an Airborne Imaging System to an Inertial Navigation Unit, Translating MAPGEN to ASPEN for MER, Support Routines for In Situ Image Processing, and Semi-Supervised Eigenbasis Novelty Detection

Software Defined Radio System for CubeSat Communication

Cube satellites, or CubeSats, are small satellites designed around a base unit cube of 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm which is commonly referred to as a one unit, or 1 U, CubeSat. The modular architecture of CubeSats allows multiple 1 U frames to be stacked together to form a larger (1.5U, 2U, usually up to 6U) frame as needed. Because CubeSats are cheaper to develop and deploy in orbit than larger satellites, they have become increasingly common for academic, amateur, commercial, and scientific applications over the past five to ten years. There is potential that CubeSats will be deployed in swarms and clusters in the near future to perform more complex missions. With this potential, there is a need for communication between satellites in these missions. The purpose of this project is to design and demonstrate a proof-of-concept for a Software Defined Radio (SDR) for communication between CubeSats. The first phase design has focused on two main components: electrical and software design of the radio, and the mechanical packaging that will encase the radio chip-set and mount within the satellite. The electrical and software design completed this year resulted in the development of HDL code for phase recovery, timing recovery, and error correction. The mechanical design completed this year produced a prototype packaging for the future SDR chipset and custom PCB board. The design process and results of this project are detailed in this report