Development of simplified enclosure for software testing of baseband prototypes

Sammanfattning

This thesis explores the development of a simplified and reusable mechanical enclosure tailored for indoor Radio Access Network (RAN) Compute prototypes used in controlled software testing environments. The objective is to improve circularity and sustainability by reducing material waste and overall costs associated with prototype manufacturing. The study includes a thorough analysis of design requirements, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, thermal management, durability, adaptability and compatibility across various RAN Compute platforms. Environmental data from software laboratories, such as temperature and airflow quality guided the design process to ensure optimal operational alignment. The resulting solution is an aluminium sheet metal enclosure featuring modular mounting elements to improve adaptability and minimise material consumption during component redesigns. Thermal requirements were verified using analytical calculations and simulations based on a one dimensional heat transfer model. EMC compliance and structural design were supported by theoretical estimations, mechanical simulations, and physical validation tests. Embedded CO2 emission calculations demonstrated a potential reduction of approximately 80 % per unit and over 90 % throughout an entire development cycle of a baseband generation. The results indicate that a simplified and reusable enclosure is both technically feasible and environmentally beneficial in the context of sustainable practice at Ericsson.