Radiation-Tolerant SDR for Space Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software-defined radio devices for space systems are not radiation tolerant, making them unsuitable for the harsh environment in space where constant radiation poses a threat to system functionality.
Innovation Solution
A highly integrated, radiation tolerant software-defined radio system is developed, incorporating components like power supply, baseband processor, memories, and RF transceivers, along with mitigation mechanisms such as monitoring of voltage and current levels, register configuration monitoring, and software watchdogs to ensure system recovery and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If commercial off-the-shelf electronic devices are used for space applications, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but radiation tolerance and system reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements mitigation mechanisms including error correction codes, redundancy in critical components, and watchdog timers that are built into the system architecture before deployment. These mechanisms cushion against radiation effects by providing pre-configured error detection and correction capabilities, allowing the system to maintain reliability without requiring specialized radiation-hardened components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses software-based reconfiguration capabilities to create virtual copies of radio functions across different frequency bands. The software-defined radio architecture allows the same hardware to be copied and adapted for multiple applications (4G, 5G, satellite communications) through software, eliminating the need for multiple physical hardware copies and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through software-level redundancy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If software-defined radio technology is used for multi-band operations, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but vulnerability to radiation effects worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal software-defined radio platform that can perform multiple radio functions across different frequency bands (4G LTE, 5G NR, satellite communications) using the same hardware infrastructure. The software-configurable radio frequency transceiver and programmable baseband processor provide multi-functionality, allowing a single device to adapt to various communication standards and bands, thereby improving versatility while managing radiation vulnerability through software-level error mitigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes software-based reconfiguration of critical parameters including local oscillator frequency, analog filter bandwidth, gain control of amplifiers, and sample rates of converters. These parameter changes allow the system to adapt to different frequency bands and communication standards dynamically. The software-controlled parameter adjustment provides flexibility while enabling mitigation mechanisms to monitor and correct parameter drift caused by radiation effects in real-time.
3Reliability
If radiation mitigation mechanisms are implemented, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mitigation mechanisms including autonomous error detection and correction, automatic frequency offset compensation, and self-healing capabilities through software watchdogs. The system monitors its own operational parameters and automatically corrects radiation-induced errors without external intervention, improving reliability while minimizing the complexity of external mitigation hardware by making the system self-sufficient in detecting and correcting its own errors.
Data Source
AI summary
The radiation tolerant software defined radio device for multi-band radio applications in space systems comprising components for terrestrial application not qualified officially for use in space, the components comprisinga power supply,a base band processor, such as e.g. a processor of the Xilinx SoC (system-on-chip) product family Zynq-7000,volatile and non-volatile memories, such as e.g. SDRAM and NAND flash memories,a radio frequency transceiver, such as e.g. the RF agile transceiver AD9361 from Analog Devices, allowing for software-based reconfiguration of various radio frequency characteristics, such as local oscillator frequency, analog filter band width, gain control of input and output amplifiers, sample rates of analog-to-digital converters and digital-to-analog converters, andmitigation mechanisms on hardware and software level for autonomously recovering to a nominal state.