Segmented Channel Modeling and Implementation for Deep Space Communications with Solar Scintillation

This paper introduces a segmented channel modeling approach that not only expands the channel model to cover distances within 20 times the radius of the Sun in the deep-space segment but also utilizes a more comprehensive TDL model in the near-Earth segment. Furthermore, we utilize FPGA and software-defined radio (SDR) for the verification of the channel model. The FPGA implementation (50MHz) executes all channel modules by using hardware circuits and reduces channel computation time to only 6.1% compared to software simulations (8 cores, 3.2GHz), which significantly speeds up the computing. Moreover, the SDR implementation, which is built on the FPGA’s computational foundation, incorporates RF hardware to achieve more realistic link simulations. The results from these hardware implementations closely align with theoretical predictions, affirming their utility for real-time simulation of deep space channels in laboratory conditions.