Implementation of a protocol and channel coding strategy for use in ground-satellite applications

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:A collaboration between the Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven (KUL) andStellenbosch University (SU), resulted in the development of a satellite basedplatform for use in agricultural sensing applications. This will primarily serveas a test platform for a digitally beam-steerable antenna array (SAA) that wasdeveloped by KUL. SU developed all flight - and ground station based hardwareand software, enabling ground to flight communications and interfacing withthe KUL SAA. Although most components had already been completed at thestart of this M:Sc:Eng: project, final systems integration was still unfinished.Modules necessary for communication were also outstanding. This projectimplemented an automatic repeat and request (ARQ) strategy for reliable filetransfer across the wireless link. Channel coding has also been implementedon a field programmable gate array (FPGA). This layer includes an advancedforward error correction (FEC) scheme i.e. a low-density parity-check (LDPC),which outperforms traditional FEC techniques. A flexible architecture forchannel coding has been designed that allows speed and complexity trade-offson the FPGA. All components have successfully been implemented, tested andintegrated. Simulations of LDPC on the FPGA have been shown to provideexcellent error correcting performance. The prototype has been completed andrecently successfully demonstrated at KUL. Data has been reliably transferredbetween the satellite platform and a ground station, during this event.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University