DATA DISTRIBUTION In The TELEMETRY GROUND STATION OF THE 1990’s

Abstract

For as long as telemetry has been used in scientific research, users have asked for transmission of more data points at higher data frequencies. Now, the increased complexity of vehicles under test and the presence of data from one or several computer systems on a vehicle has further increased the rate and format complexity of a typical telemetry data stream. To accommodate higher data rates and increased complexity, many telemetry ground stations use distributed processing techniques, typically employing a hardware preprocessor, a host computer, and one or more intelligent display stations. While this distribution of power potentially enhances data throughput rates, it imposes new demands on data distribution networks within the processing area, and the full potential of the processors cannot be met until these demands have been met. This paper looks first at system architecture of the typical ground station, and how this architecture and telemetry data rate capability have progressed during the past 20 years. Then it looks at the data distribution requirement in a modern telemetry ground station, explores possible solutions to improve throughput rates, and describes a set of solutions for typical system applications in the next few years.