Seismic Instrumentation Technology Symposium

Communications - Leveraging Existing Infrastructures with Iridium RUDICS and SBD

Derek Inglis

June 16-17 2011

Background in Seismic Telemetry

IRIS/Passcal – RT130 / Argos- Quanterra Q330 / Iridium

Seismic and GPS data fromremote polar regions

XI-100 and XI-202

Satellite Telemetry Systems

Good choice for seismic monitoring• Disaster ready, don’t rely on cellular or

landlines• Will work in areas where there is no other

infrastructure (extreme regions)• Costs are coming down (slowly)• Geostationary Systems• Low Earth Orbiters (LEO’s)

GEO/LEO

• Geostationary Satellite systems– Track the same positions on the earth– Large orbits– Usually directional antennas (VSAT)

• Polar Orbiting satellite systems– Orbit North to South– Smaller orbits– Can use omnidirectional antennas

Satellite Systems

Argos InmarsatGOES MSATOrbcomm Iridium VSAT Globalstar

Satellite systems available

GOES, Meteosat

Messaging

GEO < 5 kB/day

Argos Messaging

LEO < 5 kB/day

Inmarsat C Messaging

GEO < 10 kB/day

Orbcomm Messaging

LEO < 50 kB/day

Iridium Voice/Data/Messaging

Big LEO 1 MB/hr

Globalstar

VSAT

Voice

Internet

Big LEO(regional)

Big LEO

1 MB/hr

10-30 MB/hr

Inmarsat BGAN Internet GEO 50 MB/hr

Iridium overview

• Designed as a phone system: 2-way, real-time• 24/7 availability, true global coverage

– 66 satellites– Inter-satellite links pass traffic to ground station

• Basic data rate 2.4kbps

• Various modes of access– Dial-up (better for larger file sizes)– Short Burst Data, SBD (up to 2 kbyte per message)– RUDICS

Cross-linked satellites

XI-100

• Short Burst Data + RUDICS• Can connect directly to a Q330 via IP or serial

port• External sensor port

XI-100 Functional Diagram

XI-100

Cold Temperatures

• Original A3LA modems spec’d to -20C• Newer 9522B’s spec’d to -30C• Need to assist modems by adding heater

circuits

Customization of Iridium modems

• Internal Heaters for cold temperature • Tested to -70C

Confidential Information - Xeos Technologies Inc. - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION

Iridium RUDICS

Benefit over non-rudics CSD type calls

• Allow for TCP/IP and UDP connectivity• More reliable connection• Slightly better transmission rates• Eliminate modem to modem• Least expensive data cost per KB

RUDICS system

• Consists of a ‘Tunnel’ server application

• Remote Seismic monitor connected to an XI-100

Data CollectionSoftware

Iridium Gateway

IridiumSatellite

Xeos XI-100

Remote Device (GPS, Seismic, etc)

Internet

Xeos XI TunnelSoftware

Data CollectionSoftware

Xeos XI-100

Remote Device (GPS, Seismic, etc)

Xeos XI TunnelSoftware

We bridge a remote network in the field to a local network back home via our XI-100 and an

Iridium satellite connection.

Data CollectionSoftware

Remote Device (GPS, Seismic, etc)

This gives you access to remote data as if you were directly connected to your device in the field

Data CollectionSoftware

Xeos XI TunnelSoftware

Xeos XI Tunnel Software

· Python based web solution (runs on almost any Operating System)· Supports HTTP connections and UDP connections to remote devices· Allows automated data collection via execution of user generated shell scripts· Allows viewing status of health for remote XI-100· Allows connections to multiple remote sites concurrently

Rudics problems Buffering data over a very slow connection - We overcame this on the

firmware side by buffering data in flash memory

TCP/IP Stack on a low power, low memory device - We stripped down the stack to the bare essentials to make it work within the confines of the hardware

RUDICS drops - We overcame these by implementing a handshake system between the XI and the tunnel to detect drops and reestablish the connection.

We also discovered an issue with stop bits that seemed to impact RUDICS

drops.

XI-202 (coming soon!)

• Smaller, lower cost• SBD only• Status of Health (SOH) message and more• GPS, accelerometer (motion and tilt)• 8 MB flash memory• External sensors Inputs• External Inputs/Outputs

XI-202• Monitor multiple

battery voltages• Collect, store, transmit

small data samples• Send and receive

commands from equipment

• External Reset other equipment (kickstart)

Polarsat – beyond Geostationary coverage

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Telesat’s Global InfrastructureTelesat is now the fourth largest Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) operator in the world providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers

The need for circumpolar coverage

Meteorological

• Continuous Circumpolar Coverage 100% at 60° North and above for weather monitoring

Communications

•Current Area of Interest outlined in blue as defined by the Canadian Space Agency

•Coverage can be expanded to include other arctic regions

•Satellite could also include:

• aviation communications

• navigation augmentation,

The Telesat Approach to Polar Constellation

• A two satellite constellation can meet these requirements for continuous weather monitoring and communications

• Satellite design life of 15 years in a space environment similar to geostationary orbit where we currently operate our 13 satellites

• A private public partnership model based on payment of services over the period in which these services are provided

• Commercial approach to the development, procurement and operation of the satellite system

• Can provide over ten hours of broadband communications service to the south pole region

Comparison of Telesat proposed orbit and geostationary orbit.

jrigley@telesat.com

Thank-You