Design, implementation and deployment of TestBed for LoRa communication architecture on nanosatellite constellations

Abstract

This study investigates the feasibility of employing LoRa technology via a nanosatellite constellation to address long-distance RF communication challenges exceeding 20 km, mainly due to Line-of-Sight (LoS) limitations in ground-based systems. With the growing popularity of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) and the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), LoRa networks, although traditionally terrestrial based, offer promising solutions for a wide range of applications.

Feasibility is assessed through simulation results obtained from a technology demonstrator or testbed platform, including performance measurements evaluating the reliability of the LoRa network infrastructure and the Quality of Service (QoS) of satellite telemetry.

The results demonstrate the viability of this approach within the technological and architectural parameters set by ASIC. The study opens doors to various applications compared to the State of The Art (SoTA). Viable prototypes may undergo further testing, expanding ASIC Labs’ intellectual property and market reach.