GSDR - Generic Software-Defined Radio
The GSDR is a highly integrated software-defined radio (SDR) platform that allows the operation of multiple applications in a broad frequency range from 70 MHz to 6 GHz (and beyond). The GSDR uses state-of-the-art technologies to allow high performance data processing and an extreme flexibility for rapid development and reconfiguration. For a reliable operation is space, the GSDR has been specifically designed and tested with respect to the harsh environment in space, in particular to radiation effects.
The GSDR is currently at a technical readiness level (TRL) of 7 and is intended to be used for the next Compact-Satellite missions of the DLR as the essential communication subsystem, either for Telecommand and Telemetry (TMTC) transmission in S-Band as well as for high speed data transmission in X-Band. Key features of the GSDR are:
- The GSDR allows simple re-use and modification from mission to mission (time-to-market).
- Small and integrated design with low power consumption and small mechanical properties, suitable to operate on small satellites.
- Radiation tolerant system design focusing on risk minimization and improvement of reliability and accessibility.
- Independencies from frequency band limitations for satellite communication (e.g. VHF, UHF, L, S/C-Band …).
- Single radio platform for multiple applications (two/three/four in one).
- Rapid and easy reconfiguration and operation of multiple applications (e.g. TMTC or/and ADS-B or/and AIS or/and Spectral Monitoring).
- Better utilization of given resources (accommodation, power, weight, …).
- Strong focus on radiation tolerances on system level (no destructive events and low soft-failure rates).