IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - May 2021 - 4

In This Issue -Technically
MASSIVE DATA TRANSFER FROM AND TO AIRCRAFT ON GROUND:
FEASIBILITY AND CHALLENGES
The analysis of large amount of sensor data can enhance aircraft operations and maintenance. In contrast
to other use cases, aircraft sensor data are accumulated on-board during the flight. The data need to be
transferred in a short time while the aircraft is on the ground due to limited and expensive connectivity
in the air. This leads to a massive transfer of data in a short time. Therefore, we analyze the data rate
demand per aircraft in terms of generated data per flight hour. We determine the influence of different
parameters on the needed data rate per aircraft. We conclude that the needed data rates are feasible if the
full day is used for transmitting. We show that multiple terabyte of generated data per flight hour can be
supported by 5G data rates. Furthermore, we highlight challenges for the deployment of an aircraft data
transfer system.

A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW: IS MILITARY COGNITIVE RADIO SYSTEM ON
THE BRINK OF THE " VALLEY OF DEATH " ?
Cognitive radio (CR) was coined to address evolving user needs two decades ago. Since then, it also has been
considered a way to mitigate perceived spectrum scarcity in various application areas. In this article, the status
of military CR research is assessed through a systematic literature review of 193 articles, from 2013 to 2020,
using IEEE thematic topics, technology readiness levels, as well as comprehensive capability meta-model as
analytical frameworks. The annual distribution of military CR research indicates continuing interest. The military CR research seems to be prolific on topics like waveform design and security, not forgetting a steady
interest in CR networking topics. Significantly low numbers of papers address applications, services, and standardization. In general, military CR research seemed sporadic and scattered. Our data suggest that a transition
from individual techniques, component-level subsystem research in the direction of systems engineering
approach, and system-level studies has not yet happened, and the overall TRLs remain low. The absence of
publicly articulated comprehensive treatment of the notion of military cognitive radio system is graphic and
has led to disjointed, scattered research at the subsystem level.

FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION OF A HYBRID BATTERY/SUPERCAPACITOR ENERGY
STORAGE SYSTEM IN AN EARTH ORBITING CUBESAT
The development and demonstration of a hybrid battery/supercapacitor energy storage system (ESS) onboard
the Earth-orbiting CubeSat JPL/CSUNSat1 is described. The ESS is capable of supporting high power pulse
currents (>10C-rate) at low temperature (<-40 C). The primary operational phase of the technology demonstration mission includes the performance characterization of the ESS at various discharge rates (1-15 A) at
moderate to low temperatures. The internal resistances obtained from JPL/CSUNSat1 telemetry under battery-only, supercapacitor-only, and hybrid operating modes of the ESS were consistent with ground test data.
Despite the loss of telemetry downlinks due to the failure of a memory storage card in the later stages of the
mission, ten charge/discharge cycles were performed successfully to validate an impedance-based performance model developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This flight demonstrates the first use of supercapacitors within a hybrid energy storage subsystem in a space environment.

IEEE A&E SYSTEMS MAGAZINE

MAY 2021

IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE - Aerospace and Electronic Systems - May 2021