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

Ali, Muhammad.; Cheng, Yongqiang.; Baddoo, Jim.; Hu, Yim Fun.; Pillai, Anju.; Pillai, Prashant.; Smith, Aleister.; Xu, Kai.

doi:10.1049/iet-smt.2014.0003

Authors

Dr Yongqiang Cheng Y.Cheng@hull.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer

Kai Xu

Yim Fun Hu

Prashant Pillai

Jim Baddoo

Aleister Smith

Muhammad Ali

Anju Pillai

Abstract

This study 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 although 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.

Publication Date	Nov 1, 2014
Journal	IET science, measurement & technology
Print ISSN	1751-8822
Electronic ISSN	1751-8830
Publisher	Institution of Engineering and Technology
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	8
Issue	6
Pages	370-379
Institution Citation	Cheng, Y., Xu, K., Hu, Y. F., Pillai, P., Baddoo, J., Smith, A., …Pillai, A. (2014). Technology demonstrator of a novel software defined radio-based aeronautical communications system. IET science, measurement & technology, 8(6), 370-379. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-smt.2014.0003
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-smt.2014.0003
Keywords	Integrated modular radio; Integrated communications system; Aeronautical communications system; Software defined radio; Joint radio resource management; SANDRA demonstrator
Publisher URL	http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=6985837&filter%3DAND%28p_IS_Number%3A6985779%29
Additional Information	Author's accepted manuscript of article published in: IET science, measurement & technology, 2014, v.8, issue 6.