www.aero-defence.tech
21
'26
Written on Modified on
High-Fidelity RF Channel Emulation in Aerospace and Defense Systems
Emerson introduces the NI Channel Emulator System Software (CHESS) to facilitate lab-based validation of mission-critical communication links.
www.ni.com
Emerson announced the NI Channel Emulator System Software (CHESS) at the 2026 Space Symposium in Colorado, debuting a software-defined platform for high-fidelity radio frequency (RF) link validation. Integrated with NI PXI Vector Signal Transceiver (VST) hardware, the platform recreates dynamic RF environments in real-time. This system is engineered for aerospace, satellite, and defense communication sectors, enabling controlled testing of ground-to-orbit, ground-to-air, and airborne links to replace high-cost field testing.
Real-Time RF Impairment Simulation and FPGA Processing
The NI CHESS platform utilizes a combination of model-based simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) execution to emulate realistic signal degradation. By leveraging high-speed FPGA co-processing, the system streams real-time RF impairments directly into the test environment. Technical capabilities include the emulation of:
- Doppler Shift: Recreating frequency shifts caused by high-velocity relative motion in satellite and airborne assets.
- Multipath Fading and Path Loss: Simulating signal attenuation and environmental reflections to test link robustness.
- Interference: Introducing complex signal noise to validate receiver performance in contested or congested spectrums.
Architecture for Scalable Aerospace Validation
The platform features a multi-channel, wideband architecture designed to adapt to increasing system complexity without requiring hardware redesigns. Unlike traditional approximations, NI CHESS provides a high-fidelity emulation of realistic RF behavior. This allows engineering teams to identify integration issues early in the development lifecycle, ensuring mission readiness and reducing the technical debt associated with late-stage field test failures.
System Integration and Economic Impact
NI CHESS is a software-based solution that integrates directly with existing NI PXI RF infrastructure. This interoperability allows aerospace and defense teams to expand their test coverage and capability while maximizing previous hardware investments. According to technical leaders at Emerson, the shift toward a software-defined automotive data ecosystem (in terms of instrumentation logic) enables teams to move faster and control costs by conducting repeatable, true-to-life validation within a lab setting.
Technical Use Cases and Mission Readiness
By shifting validation from the field to the lab, the platform eliminates the logistical burdens and unpredictable variables inherent in flight or field test campaigns. Engineers can utilize third-party scenario tools to create specific, repeatable mission profiles, ensuring that communication hardware is verified against the precise conditions of the digital supply chain and operational theater before deployment. This approach minimizes rework and prevents the schedule delays commonly associated with late-stage discoveries in hardware performance.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
The platform features a multi-channel, wideband architecture designed to adapt to increasing system complexity without requiring hardware redesigns. Unlike traditional approximations, NI CHESS provides a high-fidelity emulation of realistic RF behavior. This allows engineering teams to identify integration issues early in the development lifecycle, ensuring mission readiness and reducing the technical debt associated with late-stage field test failures.
System Integration and Economic Impact
NI CHESS is a software-based solution that integrates directly with existing NI PXI RF infrastructure. This interoperability allows aerospace and defense teams to expand their test coverage and capability while maximizing previous hardware investments. According to technical leaders at Emerson, the shift toward a software-defined automotive data ecosystem (in terms of instrumentation logic) enables teams to move faster and control costs by conducting repeatable, true-to-life validation within a lab setting.
Technical Use Cases and Mission Readiness
By shifting validation from the field to the lab, the platform eliminates the logistical burdens and unpredictable variables inherent in flight or field test campaigns. Engineers can utilize third-party scenario tools to create specific, repeatable mission profiles, ensuring that communication hardware is verified against the precise conditions of the digital supply chain and operational theater before deployment. This approach minimizes rework and prevents the schedule delays commonly associated with late-stage discoveries in hardware performance.
Edited by Romila DSilva, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
