A Real-Time Simulation Framework for Powerline Communications in More-Electric Aircraft and Spacecraft

Abstract

Aeronautical research is pushing toward the electrification of aircraft to achieve more electric aircraft and all-electric aircraft. The same trend is reflected into aerospace research for all-electric spacecraft. Nevertheless, aircraft and spacecraft electrification requires additional data networks and cables, increasing the complexity and the weight of wiring. Powerline communications (PLCs) solve such wiring issue by exploiting the vehicle power network for data transmission in order to remove the onboard data network. Within the ORCHESTRA project, PLCs are one of the building blocks of a “much more electric aircraft”. An accurate PLC channel model and the related software simulator allow: an early prediction of data transmission performance; more adequate adaptation to avoid impedance mismatches. This work proposes the development of a real-time simulation framework for PLC channels encompassing two phases: evaluation of the channel frequency response of a PLC network topology; performance evaluation of PLC receivers by means of the Software-Defined Radio (SDR) paradigm. The framework may be applied for PLC networks in both aircraft and spacecraft.