CCD5 Integrated System

System/ Network/ Protocols

Status

Ongoing
Status date

2021-09-08
Activity Code

3A.113

Objectives

Starting from existing C2 air interfaces the activity is focused on developing C2 solutions including network and security aspects. The activity addresses critical aspects like aircraft handover, network log-on, interference between flying elements, and security at physical and network layers. The system is validated, and its performance assessed in a testbed capable of emulating realistically, simultaneously and in real time the terrestrial and satellite links.

Challenges

To develop integrates solution for C2 communication (command and control) that including the network and security aspects. In particular the Project addresses the most critical aspects like aircraft handover and network log-on.

Benefits

A network architecture capable of guaranteeing the long-range mobility of a fleet of UAVs and the security linked to the authentication of the UAV and communications with ground stations, also using the satellite link, to allow the spread of managed services by UAVs on a European scale. The solution proposed for the network and security layers presents tangible improvements compared to the protocols currently in use for fixed and mobile networks in which the terminal has only short-range mobility.

Features

The testbed is capable of emulating realistically, simultaneously and in real time the terrestrial and satellite links.

System Architecture

The CCD5 IS project is based on the results obtained from the previous CCD5 project which it shares the system architecture with. The basic system architecture of the CCD5 project is as follows:

The CCD5 IS activity continues the development of CCD5 project and goes beyond the physical interface layer, to integrate a complete network and security layer, in order to join together satellite and terrestrial links in the 5030-5091 MHz band and provide C2 communications for unmanned aircrafts. The upper network layers are stacked as in the following

In this activity the link part of the physical layer of the modem, which was designed in the previous activity CCD5, is brought to a real-time platform as a combination of FPGA implementation and a real-time software implementation.

Plan

The overall duration of the program is 24 months.
The program is divided into 6 outputs:

Output 0: Defined Reference Scenario - to define the use cases for the new developments, and the scenario(s) in which they would operate.
Output 1: Finalised Technical Specification - to define a complete, self-standing and traceable set of technical requirements for the new developments.
Output 2: Selected Technical Baseline – to select the technical baseline to achieve the activity objectives.
Output 3: Verified Detailed Design – to establish a detailed design and demonstrate that it can satisfy all the technical requirements.
Output 4: Implementation and Verification Plan – to establish all detailed plans necessary to successfully implement and test the deliverable items.
Output 5: Verified Deliverable Items and Compliance Statement – to implement the deliverable items, quantify their performance and demonstrate compliance to the technical requirements.
Output 6: Technology Assessment and Standardization document – to perform an assessment of the potential of the developed items for commercial exploitation and to provide a detailed description of the system for possible standardization.

The following milestones are foreseen starting from Kick-off (To):