On-Board Processor for Dual Polarization Mobile Payloads
| Programme: | TRP Workplan | Current TRL: | 7 |
| Reference: | T506-301ET | Closure: | 2017 |
| Contractors: | Airbus DS (GB), Airbus DS (FR) | ||
Payload concepts for Mobile Satellite Systems typically employ on-board processors and are operated in L-band in single polarisation (user link). Payload systems exploiting dual polarisation could offer an enhanced level of flexibility, being able to cope better with highly time and spatial non-uniform traffic requests (typical of mobile satellite systems). The activity aimed at investigating the feasibility and assessing the performance of next generation dual polarisation payload architectures employing on-board processors.
Objective
The objective of the activity is to demonstrate the overall performance of a dual polarisation payload architecture exploiting on-board processor for next generation Mobile Satellite Systems.
Achievements and status
- Confirmed feasibility of dual polarisation payloads with on-board processors
- Identified payload concept allows >20% increase in useful throughput, >65% decrease in unmet throughput request, a ~50% reduction of exceeding throughput and >20% reduction of payload power consumption w.r.t. the state-of-the-art single polarisation payload (Alphasat-like)
- Confirmed that the identified payload concept can be embarked on the same satellite platform of state-of-the-art single polarisation payload
- No major technology developments are required for sub-systems and equipment. The system is ready to be proposed for next RFIs/RFPs
- Inmarsat has been involved in the Activity and expressed interest in considering the proposed concept for implementation in their future satellites
Benefits
The investigated payload concept offers significant performance enhancement with regard to the state-of-the-art single polarisation mobile satellite systems (Alphasat-like) with the same level of resources available from the satellite platform.
The new system allows for a dynamic flexible allocation of throughput in service areas with highly non-uniform traffic request , offering the capability of coping better with high-demanding beams
Next steps
The system concept reached TRL 3 at the end of the Activity, while the TRL of all sub-systems and technologies may be estimated at 7. The system is ready for being proposed in current and future commercial RFIs/RFPs.
