Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping Josep Vilà Head of the Digital Signal Processing Group Satellite Communications Unit Indra Sistemas 30 th May 2018 Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 2016 The MathWorks, 1 Inc.
Key Takeaways 1. Time-consuming algorithms progamming tasks reduced to the minimum Focussing on the Innovative Algorithms Design and Evaluation Minimising Design Phase 2. Same system models used for Algorithms Detailed Design Performance Analysis Assisting Prototyping and Verification 3. MATLAB used in all project phases (not only during the design phase) Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 2
Introduction to Organization and Business (I) 2.9 Bn Sales 39,000 employees Projects in +140 countries 16% Energy and Industry 16% Financial Services Complete offering for all industries R&D 6-8% of sales +200 deals with research centres and universities Leading clients in key geographies and industries 12% Telecommunications & Media 17% Public Administration and Healthcare 23% Transport & Traffic 16% Security & Defense Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 3
Introduction to Organization and Business (II) Space division is part of the defense & security market Satellite communications is one of the business unit within space division focused on: Engineering and technical consultancy on satellite communications systems Satellite systems simulation and emulation, from physical to network layer, in house simulation/emulation tools Design, development and manufacturing of satellite communication equipment Specification, design, integration and deployment of satellite communication networks, fixed and mobile Broad experience in SatCom projects for different customers worldwide, such as ESA, civil administration or military Internet Satellite DVB-S/S2 DVB-RCS Terminal 1 DVB-RCS Terminal N Satellite DAMA Ctrl DVB-RCS AINE IMBU TT&C QoS Enforcer Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 4
Innovation Challenges and Achievements (I) Multi-beam Satellite The European Space Agency (ESA), in coordination with Eurocontrol, initiated the Iris programme to design a satellite-based communication system able to cope with future Air Traffic Control (ATC) communication needs NCC Fixed Link GES 1 GES 2 Ku L Mobile Link AES Regional beams Global beam WAN Work carried out in the frame of the ESA Iris ANTARES project consortium of more than 15 participants NMC AOC ATN/OSI ATN/IPS ANSP ANSP Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 5
Innovation Challenges and Achievements (II) A key design decision was the selection of the Return Link multiple access scheme which, finally, was based on Asynchronous-CDMA Random Access. On the ground segment, a novel receiver (E-SSA), using state-of-the-art interference cancellation techniques, was used to improve the overall return link spectrum efficiency. MATLAB was the key tool used in the simulation, prototyping and verification of the innovative E-SSA receiver. Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 6
Approach Approach to prototyping the access schemes and, in particular, the ground segment receiver: Trade-off of several multiple access schemes and selection of the most appropriate one Design of the access scheme, involving extensive simulation campaign Prototyping of key elements, being the most critical one the ground segment receiver Verification of the performances in a Test Bed Aircraft Satellite Ground APE (aircraft) (Application Emulator) ONE (Onboard Network Emulator) APE (ground) (Application Emulator) ATM Network Emulator Test Manager & Test Controller OUE (Onboard User Terminal Emulator) LCE (Logical Channel Emulator) GSE (Ground Segment Emulator) Logical VTB Physical VTB UTP (User Terminal Prototype) PCE (Physical Channel Emulator) GES Prototype (Ground Earth Station Prototype) SLE (System Load Emulator) Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 7
Design Constraints The Return Link multiple access scheme, the waveform and the receiver was designed taking into account the following constraints: Stringent Class-of-Service requirements (continuity, integrity and latency) L-band aeronautical propagation channel Multipath, Doppler, etc. Limited L-band spectrum resources High system spectral efficiency required Bursty traffic generated by a large population of aircrafts Support for fixed and rotary-wing aircrafts Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 8
Asynchronous CDMA for the Return Link Random Access scheme based on Asynchronous Code Division Multiple Access (A-CDMA) Several transmitters send information simultaneously over a single communication channel taking advantage of Spread Spectrum techniques No need for network synchronisation Simple transmitter (low-cost) Enhanced Spread Spectrum ALOHA (E-SSA) receiver Combination of Spread Spectrum ALOHA (SSA) with Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 9
E-SSA Receiver with SIC It provides exceptional performances in scenarios with many transmitters sending asynchronous bursty traffic The receiver iteratively detects, demodulates, decodes, regenerates and cancels bursts from the received signal, starting with those with highest power Robust to power unbalance Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 10
Packet Loss Rate Throughput (kbit/s) Performances of E-SSA Receiver SIC Efficiency of 95% even in severe aeronautical channels Low Packet Loss Ratio even with high throughputs Spectral efficiency above 1 bit/s/hz Full frequency reuse is possible improving the system efficiency even further Performances reached with the final test-bed (blue lines) matched those from early project phases simulations (red lines) SIC performances - SF=16, DW=512, N max =3 200 180 Ideal throughput 160 AERO-MIXED, E 140 S /N 0 =[16.5,1.53]dB 120 Measurement 100 80 60 40 20 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 Offered traffic (kbit/s) 10 0 10-1 10-2 10-3 10-4 Target PLR AERO-MIXED, E S /N 0 =[16.5,1.53]dB Measurement 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 Offered traffic (kbit/s) Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 11
E-SSA Receiver Workflow Design Phase Receiver detailed design completed in very few months thanks to new algorithms programming with MATLAB MATLAB allowed us focusing on the innovative algorithms design and evaluation Prototyping FPGA FW development was assisted by MATLAB and Simulink + Xilinx System Generator Verification E-SSA receiver prototype verification and tested assisted by MATLAB tools to generate input stimuli and post-process receiver output Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 12
Simulation Models MATLAB has been used in all project phases Many MATLAB modules reused in each phase MEX files: C/C++ subroutines called as if they were built-in functions Reuse existing C/C++ code Used to validate VHDL coding of critical receiver modules during Prototyping Simulink + Xilinx System Generator also used to speed up development of some receiver modules Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 13
MathWorks Tools MATLAB toolboxes used in all project phases Communications System Toolbox DSP System Toolbox Signal Processing Toolbox Fixed-Point Designer MATLAB Compiler Simulink + Xilinx System Generator used for Prototyping Development and debugging of key receiver modules Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 14
Identified Best Practices and Learnings Reuse models as much as possible In all project phases Among different projects and teams Exhaustive simulation with in-depth performance analysis during the design phase Speeds up prototyping and verification phases Minimizes risk of unexpected issues at later project stages Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 15
Forward-looking Plans (I) Incorporate Simulink during Project Design Phase More intensive usage of Simulink + Xilinx System Generator during Prototyping (already put in practice in on-going projects) Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 16
Forward-looking Plans (II) Explore the advantages of using Parallel Computing Toolbox in projects requiring intensive simulations System Objects to speed up simulations that process large streams of data in segments HDL Coder to generate VHDL or Verilog code for FPGA from MATLAB functions or Simulink models Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 17
Antaers Air Interface Meeting with Inmarsat 20/04/2016 Comité Comercial Josep Vilà Satellite Communications Unit Space Division Indra Sistemas jvila@indra.es C/ Roc Boronat 133 08018 Barcelona www.indracompany.com Novel Satellite Random Access E-SSA Receiver with SIC Simulation and Prototyping 18 18