A COTS-based software-defined communication system platform and applications in LEO

We present a complete, small form-factor, modular, and flexible software-defined radio communications platform based on carefully selected automotive-grade commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The hardware consists of three credit-card sized modules for software-defined radio signal processing, computing and network processing, and power conditioning, as well as a multibeam active phased array antenna module. Requiring only unregulated spacecraft power supply and a data connection, the platform delivers electronically steerable and programmable radio communications links including encryption, physical-layer and network processing, channelization, and radio-signal conditioning within a low profile, modular, and scalable system. In addition, the platform may host application-specific payload processing tasks using available computing resources and reconfigurable hardware. The combination of programmability and small form factor allows for various use cases ranging from LEO satellites via UAVs and aircraft to missiles.