A Software Defined Networking Architecture for Time Triggered Ethernet in Space Systems
Matteo Calabrese, James Curbo, Gregory J. Falco · 2024
This paper examines the integration of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) with Time-Triggered Ethernet (TTE) for spacecraft bus networks, focusing on addressing the challenges and limitations of current network architectures. TTE, widely used in aerospace for its deterministic traffic handling, is complemented by SDN’s flexibility in dynamic network reconfiguration and real-time control. This integration has the potential to significantly reduce network complexity and improve modularity, fault tolerance, and real-time monitoring. However, challenges such as increased attack surfaces, the need for hardware updates, and the risks to system reliability from SDN’s centralized control introduce trade-offs that must be carefully managed. We review current research on SDN in real-time networks and propose approaches to effectively integrate SDN with TTE, enhancing spacecraft network security and adaptability while preserving its deterministic performance.