A multi-channel multiplexer simulator for satellite on Zynq SoC

Abstract

Modern satellite payloads are generating a large amount of data with very high data rates that brings great challenges to the test and simulation of the multi-channel multiplexer on satellite. Moreover, the development duration of satellite multiplexer is long, so the test of satellite data transmission might be delayed. To solve these problems, a multi-channel multiplexer simulator is designed and implemented on Zynq SoC. The simulator is in the form of standard 3U PXIe module integrating TLK2711, LVDS and RS422 interfaces. The simulator receives the multi-channel, high-speed and dynamic payload data and sends framed data through two downlink physical channels. In order to improve the efficiency of data multiplexing, the simulator receives payload data that assigns a virtual channel (VC) for every channel data on the programmable logic (PL). Then, the virtual channel schedule unit uses a virtual channel scheduling algorithm based on the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) Advanced Orbiting Systems (AOS) protocol on the processing system (PS). The 600Mbps high rate frame multiplexer of CCSDS AOS protocol is verified on Zynq SoC in the Closed Loop Testing System. And, the simulator has been applied to a certain satellite ground automatic testing system.