Analysis of the SpaceFibre technology for the high-bandwidth onboard networks

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of a prospective international standard SpaceFibre for on board data exchange for different types of aircraft. Paper provides the rationale for using of this standard for new generation on-board networks. The obtained results are based on many years of experience with the SpaceWire/SpaceFibre family of open international standards. The authors present the main problems of SpaceFibre, as well as ways to solve them. The first problem is related to the use of multi-channel data transmission in prospective Russian projects, as well as the need to increase throughput using existing equipment and physical cables. It is necessary to develop new transmission methods and algorithms and create a completely Russian version of the multilane level for the described standard. The second problem relates to the organization of data transmission in SpaceFibre networks with a large number of nodes and a complex scheme of data transfer flows, it is a consequence of an insufficiently developed network level of the standard. The authors give possible ways to solve the identified inconsistences of the standard using the concept of software-reconfigurable networks. The finalization of the SpaceFibre standard in terms of the discussed problems will improve the efficiency of the protocol itself, as well as take into account all possible comments before the stage of creating of a Russian State Standard for SpaceFibre.