Scientists of Tomsk Learnt to Prevent Faults in Satellite Communications Channels

Scientists of Tomsk University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR) have developed a device enabling exposing defects in communication channels, in particular, space satellites, according to post-graduate of the university Sergey Artishchev.

Usually defects of electric contacts are exposed by means of reflectometers, which can find only evident defects such as breaks of contacts, short circuits or damages of the cable insulation. But there are also non-evident, or “soft”, defects, such as swells, cracks, which can lead to breakdowns of electric devices.

“Our defectoscope operates according to the principle of radiolocation stations. The signal which we send to the cable line, travels along it and, in case there is any discontinuity in the cable, a part of the signal is reflected and we register it”, explained Artishchev.

The generator sends a signal to the electric device, an oscillograph, connected to the cable, and registers responses incoming from the signal. The defecoscope also has a power source, heating the electric contact. Heating leads to the increase of the resistance of non-evident defects. It helps expose the defect and its location in the cable more easily. The defectoscope can reveal defects even in an operating device. The device will be implemented for diagnostics of cable lines, which, in particular, are implemented in space satellites. It is impossible to repair the satellite already launched to space, so it is necessary to ensure reliable connection of contacts while on Earth. Our device makes it possible to supervise electric contacts during assembly”, said the developer.

He underlined that the defectoscope can be used for exposing defects in electric contacts in telephone and Internet communications, as well as in TV cable lines. At present a request for patent is executed.

• 
• November
•