Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 01:30:33 GMT Server: Apache/1.2b7 Connection: close Content-Type: text/html Last-Modified: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 16:44:22 GMT ETag: "49450c-aa5-34181fe6" Content-Length: 2725 Accept-Ranges: bytes Optoelectronics Info Page
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Satellite Communications Engineering

Modeling and Simulation

Description

The Essex satellite communications group supports Motorola's program to develop the IRIDIUM® system which is a world-wide cellular telephone network of 66 interconnected low earth orbit satellites. It will enable subscribers with a special cellular telephone to communicate with any other subscriber or telephone, no matter where located. Essex performs engineering in Columbia and on-site at Motorola's SatCom division in Chandler, Arizona.

Essex proprietary software models support system design and analysis of three broad elements of the Iridium® system: paging and messaging, voice and data channel management, and inter-satellite links. The models are enhanced and operated daily on a Silicon Graphics workstation network. These models will be used to plan and manage the operation of the satellites.

Essex is also exploring advanced concepts for future satellite systems and is pursuing new business areas to supply prototype functional software directly to the system segments. Technical contributions to the Iridium® system by Essex people have earned places as co-inventors on approximately twenty Motorola patent disclosures to date.

Application of Essex optoelectronic technology to commerical satellites has been initiated with concept development of the Essex Iris™ on-board optical channelizer and switch. This is a promising first step for the introduction of optoelectronic payloads for communications satellite systems.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact Matthew Bechta,Vice President, Director, Columbia Operations at 800-53ESSEX or via the Internet at bechta@essexcorp.com.