ADS-B Transmitter/Receiver Simulation to Decode Real Aircraft Trajectories with Software Defined Radios

In this paper, we present a fun way to teach digital communications in engineering schools. Through Software Defined Radios (SDR), we propose to the students of the Telecommunications Department of the ENSEIRB-MATMECA, Bordeaux INP to put into practice their skills in digital communications, signal processing, channel coding, etc. on real signals. More precisely, we guide them through a project, to decode the trajectories of aircraft by demodulating Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) signals. In addition to the playfulness of this project, dealing with real signals also makes it possible to verify certain modelling assumptions such as the white and Gaussian noise character or the frequency non-selectivity of the channel disturbing the ADS-B signals. The novelty of our approach also lies on the collaborative aspect of this project. Students can test their implementation any time in class or at home by sharing with us their works which is merged on an always online server connected to a SDR hardware.