Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A collaboration between the Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven (KUL) and
Stellenbosch University (SU), resulted in the development of a satellite based
platform for use in agricultural sensing applications. This will primarily serve
as a test platform for a digitally beam-steerable antenna array (SAA) that was
developed by KUL. SU developed all flight - and ground station based hardware
and software, enabling ground to flight communications and interfacing with
the KUL SAA. Although most components had already been completed at the
start of this M:Sc:Eng: project, final systems integration was still unfinished.
Modules necessary for communication were also outstanding. This project
implemented an automatic repeat and request (ARQ) strategy for reliable file
transfer across the wireless link. Channel coding has also been implemented
on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). This layer includes an advanced
forward error correction (FEC) scheme i.e. a low-density parity-check (LDPC),
which outperforms traditional FEC techniques. A flexible architecture for
channel coding has been designed that allows speed and complexity trade-offs
on the FPGA. All components have successfully been implemented, tested and
integrated. Simulations of LDPC on the FPGA have been shown to provide
excellent error correcting performance. The prototype has been completed and
recently successfully demonstrated at KUL. Data has been reliably transferred
between the satellite platform and a ground station, during this event. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tydens ’n samewerkingsooreenkoms tussen die Katholieke Universiteit van
Leuven (KUL) en die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US) is ’n satelliet stelsel
ontwikkel vir sensor-netwerk toepassings in die landbou bedryf. Hierdie stelsel
sal hoofsaaklik dien as ’n toetsmedium vir ’n digitaal stuurbare antenna
(SAA) wat deur KUL ontwikkel is. Die US het alle hardeware en sagteware
komponente ontwikkel om kommunikasie d.m.v die SAA tussen die satelliet en
’n grondstasie te bewerkstellig. Sedert die begin van hierdie M:Sc:Ing: projek
was die meeste komponente alreeds ontwikkel en geïmplementeer, maar
finale stelselsintegrasie moes nog voltooi word. Modules wat kommunikasie
sou bewerkstellig was ook nog uistaande. Hierdie projek het ’n ARQ protokol
geïmplementeer wat data betroubaar tussen die satelliet en ’n grondstasie
kon oordra. Kanaalkodering is ook op ’n veld programmeerbare hekskikking
(FPGA) geïmplementeer. ’n Gevorderde foutkorrigeringstelsel, naamlik ’n lae
digtheids pariteit toetskode (LDPC), wat tradisionele foutkorrigeringstelsels
se doeltreffendheid oortref, word op hierdie FPGA geïmplementeer. ’n Kanaalkoderingsargitektuur
is ook ontwikkel om die verwerkingspoed van data
en die hoeveelheid FPGA logika wat gebruik word, teenoor mekaar op te weeg.
Alle komponente is suksesvol geïmplementeer, getoets en geïntegreer met die
hele stelsel. Simulasies van LDPC op die FPGA het uistekende foutkorrigeringsresultate
gelewer. ’n Werkende prototipe is onlangs voltooi en suksesvol
gedemonstreer by KUL. Betroubare data oordrag tussen die satelliet en die
grondstasie is tydens hierdie demonstrasie bevestig.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20346 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Wiid, Riaan |
| Contributors | Wolhuter, R., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 131 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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