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An aircraft based emulation platform and control model for LEO satellite antenna beam steering

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A joint project between the KU Leuven and Stellenbosch Universities was at
the time of this thesis underway to develop a space borne electronically beam
steerable antenna and the associated ground-space segments. This thesis covers
the development of an aircraft based satellite emulator to facilitate convenient
aircraft based testing of an antenna array, intended for low earth orbit
satellite deployment and subsystems to control the antenna array. A flight
strategy is developed to emulate such a satellite pass as best possible, with the
strategy implemented in software on in-flight PC hardware. A full interface
between the aircraft avionics and satellite bus system has been developed to
enable generation of the required antenna steering commands and to create
a satellite bus image to the payload. Successful test results are presented, as
obtained from the actual aircraft ight simulator. The thesis describes the
successful development and testing of a low altitude flight test strategy for
certain satellite borne systems, as a cost-effective and realistic interim step to
actual and very expensive space flight testing. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Gesamentlike projek deur KU Leuven en Stellenbosch Universiteit was tydens
die verloop van hierdie tesis besig met die ontwikkeling om 'n ruimte
gebaseerde elektroniese straal beheerde antenna en geassosieerde substelsels
daar te stel. Hierdie tesis handel oor die ontwikkeling van 'n vliegtuig gebaseerde
satelliet emulator om die toetsing van 'n elektroniese stuurbare antenna, wat
bedoel is vir 'n lae aardse wentelbaan, te fasiliteer en die ontwikkeling van substelsels
wat die stuurbare antenna beheer. 'n Vlug strategie is ontwikkel om so
'n satelliet wentelbaan so na as moontlik te emuleer. Die strategie word dan
geïmplementeer in die sagteware van die aanboord vlug rekenaar. 'n Intervlak
tussen die vliegtuig instrumente en satellietbus is ontwikkel om die generering
van die nodinge instruksies te fasiliteer en om 'n virtuele satellietbus vir die
res van die satelliet stelsel te skep. Suksesvolle toets resultate word getoon
wat met behulp van 'n vliegtuig simulator verkry is. Die tesis beskryf die
suksesvolle ontwikkeling en toetsing van 'n lae vlugtoets strategie vir satelliet
stelsels, as 'n koste effektiewe en realistiese tussenstap, tot baie duur ruimte
vlugtoetsing.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5200
Date12 1900
CreatorsKruger, Iwan Carel
ContributorsWolhuter, R., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format159 p. : ill.
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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