Wireless Transmission of Sensor Data over UWB in Spacecraft Payload Networks

• Published in: 2018 6th IEEE International Conference on Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (WiSEE) pp. 131 - 136
• Main Authors: Ratiu, Ovidiu, Panagiotopoulos, Nickolaos, Vos, Stefan, Puschita, Emanuel
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Communication system security; IEEE 802.15 Standard; intra-spacecraft; payload network; Payloads; Space vehicles; UWB communications; Wireless communication; Wireless sensor networks
• ISSN: 2380-7636
• DOI: 10.1109/WiSEE.2018.8637336

The work presented in this paper consists in the implementation and testing of a Wireless Sensor Network for wirelessly connecting intra-satellite payload sensors to a Payload Data Handling Unit by using a custom ISA100 industrial wireless communication protocol over an Ultra-Wide Band RF communication channel. All tests were performed on a laboratory test bed consisting of three wirelessly enabled camera sensors and a wireless Gateway. The Gateway is connected via RS422 to a Payload Data Handling Unit emulated by a PC application that can generate acquisition commands to the sensors and display the resulting images. Test results indicate the suitability of Ultra-Wide Band and ISA100 wireless protocol combination for implementing wireless communications inside a spacecraft payload network.