VDE-S payload

VOCS project description

VOCS is a platform implementing a VDES Half Duplex RF front-End for CubeSats (nanosat, microsat) with dedicated Tx and Rx Radio front-end, for Half-Duplex and potentially Full-Duplex operations.

VDE-SAT standard is a VHF data exchange- satellite system defined in recommendation ITU-R M.2092.1 (February 2022).

VOCS project has implemented an RF Front End and Downlink PHY layer multi-channel. The VOCS project developed under a programme of and funded by the European Space Agencyis.

DWave has designed the Hardware and the Firmware. There are three  main goals achieved during the project with respect to the previous generations of this  developments:

  1. lower mass 50%
  2. lower volume 50%
  3. lower power consumption 50%

the achievement has been reached using new approaches and technologies.

Breadbord Features

The front end is splitted in two sub systems: the TX front end and RX front end:

 

RF-Front End TX

 

♦ Voltage Supplies for HPA, LNA, RF Switch and control logic:
 +28V, max 611mA (internally limited)
 +5V, 500mA

♦ Output signal peak power: 5W

♦  VDES Signal O

♦ MCX RF Connectors

♦ Weight: 0.350Kg

 

 

 

Interfaces

+——————————–+——————————––—————————————————–+
| Port Name                  | Description                                                                                    |
+——————————–+——————————––—————————————————–+
| TX RF input                   |  receive RF signal from SDR                                                         |
+——————————–+——————————––—————————————————–+
| RX RF output                | RF signal to be provided to the RX path                                    |
+——————————–+——————————––—————————————————–+
|ANTENNA RF in/out     | RF bidirectional signal (half-duplex)                                           |
+——————————–+———————————————–—————————————-+
|2x I/O CMOS 3.3V         | TX Enable, RF Switch SPDT control   for forward/                    |
|   control signals           |         /reverse power detector  measurement                           |
+——————————–+———————————————–—————————————-+
| 2x analog outputs       | Power Detector level and temperature level                            |  
+——————————–+———————————————–—————————————-+
| 1x digital output          | PA ShutDown Alarm                                                                      |
+——————————–+———————————————–—————————————-+

RF-Front End RX

♦  Voltage Supply: +5V

♦  Max Current: 250mA

♦  Signal Output Gain: ~45dB

♦  MCX RF Connectors.

♦  Weight: 0.2Kg

 

 

 

 

Interfaces

+——————————–+——————————––—————————-+
| Port Name                  | Description                                                     |
+——————————–+——————————––—————————-+
| RX IN                             |  RF received signal input                                |
+——————————–+——————————––—————————-+
| RX OUT                         | amplified RF output signal route to SDR     |
+——————————–+——————————––—————————-+
| I/O CMOS                     | 3.3V for RX Enable                                           |
+——————————–+———————————————–—————+

 

Next Steps: 1U Cubesat for  IOD/IOV

The system will improved to achieve the TRL6.

A set of CubeSat compliant commercial versions of the VOCS Boards was developed, compatible with COTS SDR dimensions on the market.

The first figure below, on the left, shows the 3D view of the two commercial VOCS Boards  assembled with a GOMSpace NanoDock SDR, a GOMSpace NanoCom TR-600 and Z7000 modules.

The second and third figures show the detail of the commercial boards designed by DWave that implement the RX board and the TX board RF front end.

♦ Total cubesat system Dimensions: 90x96x65mm

♦ Total cubesat system Weight: 0.750Kg

 

 

Applications:
  • Navigation, Positioning
  • Safety
  • Messages
  • AIS2 
  • VDE-SAT 
Order & Informations:

If you need a full presentation  OR a quotation,

please send an e-mail to –> sales @ dwavesrl.it