B7.3 - Research into equivalent Bidirectional Telemetry
- Event
- ETTC 2024 - European Test and Telemetry Conference
2024-06-11 - 2024-06-13
Nuremberg - Chapter
- RF Design I
- Author(s)
- F. M. Fernandez Casuso - Airbus Defence and Space, Getafe-Madrid (Spain)
- Pages
- 254 - 259
- DOI
- 10.5162/ETTC2024/B7.3
- ISBN
- 978-3-910600-02-7
- Price
- free
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the efforts made by the Flight Test Centre in Spain towards achieving robust, efficient, and high-quality bidirectional telemetry: from exploring potential uses to integrating it into ground stations and aircraft, including testing and searching for technologies. The approach involves two main strategies. Firstly, internally redefining the telemetry paradigm to identify new applications benefiting from the technology's advantages. Secondly, exploring the market for suppliers to meet the specific needs of the Flight Test Center. The goal is to develop bidirectional telemetry with equal capabilities in range, bandwidth, and latency, while also leveraging new features such as mesh networking or beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) capabilities. This requires implementing a new system, integrating high-gain antennas with dipoles, and utilizing various transmitter/receiver technologies like beamforming and MIMO. Testing and integration of this system are already underway at the Flight Test Centre in Spain, with different configurations and providers being evaluated to gain confidence and measure capabilities. The paper aims to showcase initial steps taken in this new technology, presenting theoretical and practical results achieved so far and their impact on telemetry practices. It also discusses challenges encountered and expected in the future, with the outcomes determining potential changes in test procedures.