Rapid Prototyping for a Future Aeronautical Mobile Communications System Using Software Defined Radio

With the aim of achieving an efficient and economical aeronautical network, the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network/Internet Protocol Suite is being standardized at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) is also currently under discussion at ICAO for the next-generation air-to-ground aeronautical communication system that is compatible with Internet Protocol (IP) network. Previously, the Electronic Navigation Research Institute in Japan developed the LDACS physical layer experimental system (LPES) and evaluated the basic physical layer characteristics of the LDACS. In this study, we evolved the LPES and developed upper layer protocols to realize real-time end-to-end IP communication. To develop the system faster and at lower-cost, a software defined radio platform is selected so that we can re-use the platform for other future aeronautical communications system by changing only the software. This paper provides an overall system description and some basic evaluation results of our developed prototype. The preliminary tests conducted using a signal generator show that our prototypes were well implemented according to the LDACS specification. The overall system tests conducted using the prototype airborne and ground stations indicate the successful cell entry process and real-time IP end-to-end communication.