International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking最新文献

The new era of satellite communications will rely on thousands of highly flexible spacecraft capable of autonomously managing constellation resources, such as power or frequency. Previous work has focused on the automation of the individual tasks that compose the resource allocation problem (RAP). However, two aspects remain unaddressed: (1) A unified method that autonomously solves the RAP under nongeosynchronous conditions is still to be developed, and (2) the cost–benefit of using optimization methods remains to be studied. Note that these studies are critical for satellite operators to take appropriate decisions concerning the automation of communications constellations operations. To close this gap, this work proposes an adaptive framework to solve the RAP for high-dimensional nongeosynchronous satellite constellations. The proposed framework uses a divide-and-conquer approach that solves each step of the RAP, leveraging different optimization algorithms at the subproblem level to produce a valid and efficient allocation of resources over long time horizons. When comparing the proposed method against scalable greedy solutions, the former achieves up to four times more constellation capacity and reduces the overall consumed power by up to a factor of 3. The cost–benefit analysis reveals which RAP subproblems should be prioritized depending on the operator's objectives. Studying diverse operational conditions, we find that optimization methods enhance capacity consistently yet might raise power consumption due to trade-offs in the routing algorithms.

Amidst the next industrial revolution, advanced spaceborne optical communication technologies that offer terabit per second throughput enable seamless exploration, communication, and efficient information capacity allocation. The current paper aims to provide profound insight into the major developments of laser communication activities in deep space. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive review and comparison of the most prominent ESA-supported (European Space Agency) initiatives, including the Lunar Optical Communication Link (LOCL) and the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) demonstrations, among other activities, are provided. While ESA has gained sophisticated heritage by means of manufacturing and testing a number of cutting-edge optical communication technologies within LOCL activity, it also intends to demonstrate an augmented ground infrastructure for establishing an end-to-end High Photon Efficiency (HPE) optical communication link between Earth and DSOC payload of NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Psyche Spacecraft. To this end, critical and leading system designs including specific issues that are required for the realization of next-generation systems, along with examples of high-level architectures, are provided in the current work. Considering the enhanced technical expertise, the paper further addresses the technological prospects and envisaged deep-space optical data-return channels for future missions, encompassing the giant planets and beyond at distances larger than 4.2 Astronomical Units (AU), as part of the forthcoming planning cycle, Voyage 2050, of ESA's Space Science Programme. All those prominent goals are addressed and evaluated in terms of fundamental limitations that apply to the information capacity of the HPE optical communication system, which is then compared with a radio frequency (RF) Ka-band link. The demonstrated capabilities to extend the range over 100 AU of optical communication links, while supporting capacity characterized by a high signal-to-noise regime, have the potential to revolutionize planetary exploration.

This paper presents a comprehensive survey of advancements in resource allocation techniques within the realm of multibeam satellites, focusing specifically on four key areas related to payload beam hopping, along with allocations of power, bandwidth, and beamwidth. It provides a comprehensive examination of traditional approaches alongside the innovative adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) methods to tackle these obstacles. A comprehensive analysis is carried out to investigate the possible approaches to enhance the resource allocation efficiency further. While acknowledging the plethora of topics within the multibeam satellite domain, this study deliberately narrows its focus to these four fundamental aspects, providing a nuanced understanding of the evolving landscape in satellite communications.

As global informationization deepens, the importance of Space-Ground Integrated Network (SGIN) as a new network architecture becomes increasingly prominent. SGIN combines the advantages of ground and space networks, enabling global information interconnection and sharing through various communication means such as satellites, drones, and ground stations. However, due to its complex network environment and diverse communication requirements, traditional network architectures struggle to meet its demands for efficiency, stability, and scalability. To address these challenges, we focus on the research, design, and implementation of a cloud-edge collaboration-based multi-cluster system for SGIN. The goal is to construct an efficient, stable, and scalable network system capable of providing seamless global coverage and efficient communication within SGIN. We design a multi-cluster system architecture based on container technology, leveraging cloud and edge computing techniques for dynamic resource allocation and efficient utilization. This architecture aims to meet the diverse network service requirements of ground terminals, enhancing responsiveness, efficiency, resilience, and reliability of network services. Additionally, we introduce a multipath data transmission mechanism to support the transfer of large-scale data, such as remote sensing images. A simulation platform tailored for SGIN is developed, demonstrating the feasibility of the multi-cluster system and the effectiveness of multipath data transmission.

It is becoming very common to use multiple GEO satellite inside the same longitude slot. There are different co-location strategies for that purpose but the most common one is to use “eccentricity and inclination separation” especially if the whole fleet is being controlled by the same operator. In this study, the determination of link availability by also considering the potential RF Interference between co-located satellites are examined. The main objective of the study is not to protect from the interference but to determine whether the satellites' orbital behavior may decrease the link availability and how much if they have potential of RF interference. In the study, two co-located GEO satellites are shown as a sample, but in principle, the philosophy demonstrated here can be used for three or more co-located GEO satellites.