The new 5G NTN systems present a challenging complexity, which is straining development cycles. Engineers are seeking commercial software solutions that connect with their existing development environments and manage virtual prototyping of their systems in application-specific settings. Simulations using measurement-derived models offer greater fidelity in mission-critical applications such as satellite communications and aerospace and defense. System architects want to explore hypothetical real-world scenarios before deploying hardware to reduce technical risk and minimize time to market.
PathWave System Design 2023 software assists engineers working on radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), subsystems, and mission or systems-of-systems applications by connecting system, baseband, and hardware verification tools in a comprehensive RF system modeling workflow. Engineers can perform state-of-the-art phased array analysis, capturing all non-ideal effects across channels and between amplifiers and antennas. New tool capabilities also enable nonlinear system modeling in the frequency domain for predicting application-specific system behavior.
“5G applications are evolving into 6G, requiring tools that fully address the digital engineering design and validation workflow,” said Peter Blood, Director of Product Management for PathWave System Design at Keysight. “Organizations are demanding that systems be virtually prototyped in their target scenario, so system and mission engineers are migrating to simulation, virtual prototyping, and digital twins. These techniques accelerate the development process and eliminate the need for multiple physical prototypes. PathWave System Design unifies simulation with models derived from real-world measurements and offers a complete RF systems workflow to rapidly architecture, design, and verify these complex NTN systems with up-to-date 5G libraries.”
Key features and benefits of PathWave System Design 2023 software include:
• An updated 5G transceiver that supports NTN along with PathWave Vector Signal Analysis (89600 VSA) 2023. Enhancements include a comprehensive channel model, which natively supports all propagation characteristics for low, medium, and geostationary orbits, including large propagation delays and large Doppler frequency shifts with path visualization.
• Two new simulation user interfaces: the Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) Explorer for circuit-level designers in PathWave Advanced Design System (ADS) and the DPD Designer for architects in PathWave System Design. These enhancements deliver unprecedented efficiency, flexibility, speed, and fidelity, enabled by Keysight's compact waveforms and new graphical user interfaces. The new Dynamic Gain model offers unparalleled modeling of power amplifiers with memory effects and supports workflow with other Keysight software tools and instrumentation.
• New Load Pull modeling creates the definitive digital twin for phased arrays with power amplifier models derived from Keysight instrumentation or circuit-level simulation. Phased array architects can be confident that their system simulation offers maximum accuracy thanks to Keysight's expertise in RF measurement science.
• Connectivity with Keysight EXata and PROPSIM Channel Studio software makes it easy for mission engineers to create a 5G digital twin at the network level. PathWave System Design's high-fidelity physical layer analysis and PROPSIM's channel models enhance EXata's unique blend of statistical simulation. Designers can evaluate network-level performance in NTN communication systems without compromising simulation fidelity, complexity, or speed.
