Satellites rely on radio systems to generate, transmit, receive and process signals. Satellites are akin to computers in the sky, and radio communication serves as their primary means of interaction with us on the ground. Naturally, when communicating with any type of computer, more data is advantageous, and satellites are no exception.
Traditionally, this has been achieved using Radio Frequency (RF) technology due to its ability to travel long distances. However, these signals may be weakened due to interference, originating from both human-made sources and natural phenomena.
To make SATCOMM more resilient, Inovor Technologies and The Australian National University (ANU) are co-developing a new software-defined radio (SDR) solution that is set to be onboard all of Inovor’s locally manufactured satellites.
“Inovor is a pioneering Australian space company. I’ve worked with them for five years now and witnessed their drive to build sovereign capabilities for the space industry, from star trackers and reaction wheels to entire small satellite buses,” said iLAuNCH Trailblazer Executive Director, Darin Lovett.
“This project under the iLAuNCH partnership will see ANU and Inovor build a satellite-based Software Defined Radio (SDR) and a subsequent launch into space to demonstrate critical space-flight heritage, paving the way for exports.”
The SDR will implement basic communication strategies and facilitate high data rate transfers to advance satellite communications.
“We are employing a postdoc fellow who will extend our R&D beyond simulation technologies for ground testing. We will also enhance the system’s ability to maintain resilient radio links, regardless of the interference encountered,” said ANU Lead of Information and Signal Processing Cluster, Associate Professor Nan Yang.
With a strong emphasis on local manufacturing, Inovor Technologies controls the manufacturing process, to ensure quality, security, and timely delivery of their satellites.
“These SDRs are being designed to resist the extreme temperatures and radiation levels of space and will be able to position satellites more accurately post launch and feed control information to the onboard maneuvering system,” said Inovor CEO and Founder, Matthew Tetlow. “All these critical components, will be crafted within our facilities, to establish a sovereign edge, reinforcing our ability to maximise mission assurance.”
Both satellites and ground stations are completely dependent on radio systems, so the SDR is a crucial component in the satellite industry. To enable Inovor to develop a high data rate radio sub-system, ANU will conduct research and provide simulation models to guide design choices and validate the design at various stages. In parallel, Inovor will develop the prototype hardware and software to support the activities, using the simulation models provided by ANU to qualify the design at critical points. This prototype hardware and software would include the SDR module that is capable of a space to ground link and inter-satellite links. Finally, the SDR module will be integrated into the Inovor Apogee Bus for an on orbit demonstration of all capabilities.
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