Satellite tracking system

Abstract

The present application relates to a satellite tracking system, which includes: an antenna array, the antenna array is used to receive multiple wave signals sent by the tracking satellite; a transmission module, connected to the antenna array, is used to transmit the multiple wave signals to a radio platform; wherein the radio platform determines the emission angle of the multiple wave signals according to the phase difference between the multiple wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array; and determines the position information of the tracking satellite according to the emission angle of the multiple wave signals. The present application can reduce the complexity of the tracking system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a satellite tracking system. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of satellite communication technology and applications, low-orbit satellite Internet is increasing. In the visible arc of the satellite, the mechanical antenna pointing of the ground station of the low-orbit satellite system needs to move with the satellite. Especially for a large number of satellites deployed in constellations, each satellite has the same technical parameters, and the ground station uses the same number of antennas for communication services. These antennas form a resource pool and serve the satellites in the constellation together. Usually an antenna field has several antennas to form an antenna array. The low-orbit satellite system operation control center performs task planning, allocation, and scheduling for the antenna array, as well as collects the antenna operation status.

[0003] In traditional technology, the antenna array in the satellite tracking system adopts the principle of differential beam angle measurement.

[0004] However, the sum and difference beam ratio angle measurement requires the use of two beams, which will increase the complexity and cost of the entire system, so it is urgently needed to be improved. Summary of the invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a satellite tracking system that can reduce the complexity of the tracking system in response to the above technical problems.

[0006] The present application provides a satellite tracking system, which includes:

[0007] Antenna array, the antenna array is used to receive multi-path incoming wave signals sent by tracking satellites;

[0008] The transmission module is connected to the antenna array and is used to determine the transmission angle of the multi-path wave signals according to the phase difference between the multi-path wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array;

[0009] The location information of the tracking satellite is determined based on the transmission angles of multiple incoming signals.

[0010] In one embodiment, the transmission module includes:

[0011] A switch submodule, used to control the on / off of the transmission line between the antenna array and the radio platform;

[0012] The frequency conversion submodule is used to perform frequency conversion processing on multiple incoming wave signals according to the target frequency of the radio platform.

[0013] In one embodiment, the multi-path wave signals include a first wave signal and a second wave signal, and the first wave signal is received by a first antenna unit in an antenna array, and the second wave signal is received by a second antenna unit in the antenna array, and the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit are adjacent to each other; the radio platform determines the emission angle of the multi-path wave signals according to the phase difference between the multi-path wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array, specifically for:

[0014] The transmission angle of the first incoming wave signal is determined according to the phase difference between the first incoming wave signal and the second incoming wave signal, the frequency of the first incoming wave signal, and the layout distance between the first antenna and the second antenna.

[0015] In one embodiment, the frequency conversion submodule is specifically used for:

[0016] The signal frequencies of the multiple incoming wave signals are all adjusted to the target frequency of the radio platform, and the phase differences between the multiple incoming wave signals are kept unchanged.

[0017] In one of the embodiments, the position information of the tracking satellite includes the elevation angle value of the tracking satellite.

[0018] In one embodiment, the switch submodule includes a mechanical switch.

[0019] In one embodiment, each antenna unit in the antenna array includes two polarization modes: left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization.

[0020] In one embodiment, an error compensation signal corresponding to an error condition is obtained; wherein the error condition is determined based on the error signal strength and the error signal environment;

[0021] If the signal strength of the incoming signal reaches the error signal strength, or the current environment matches the error signal environment successfully, the transmission angle of the multiple incoming signals is determined based on the error compensation signal, the phase difference between the multiple incoming signals, and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array.

[0022] In the above-mentioned satellite tracking system, the radio platform in this application only needs to determine the angle value of the tracking satellite based on the transmission angles corresponding to the multiple incoming signals, using a preset angle measurement algorithm. Compared with the difference beam angle measurement in traditional technology, only one beam is needed, reducing the complexity and cost of the entire system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a satellite tracking system in one embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a satellite tracking system in another embodiment;

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a first antenna unit and a second antenna unit in one embodiment;

[0026] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of an incoming wave signal in an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the present application provides a satellite tracking system, including: an antenna array, a transmission module and a radio platform; wherein,

[0029] Antenna array, the antenna array is used to receive and track multi-path incoming signals sent by satellites.

[0030] The transmission module is connected to the antenna array and is used to determine the transmission angle of the multi-path wave signals according to the phase difference between the multi-path wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array;

[0031] The location information of the tracking satellite is determined based on the transmission angles of multiple incoming signals.

[0032] It can be understood that the antenna array includes multiple antenna units; optionally, the satellite tracking system in this embodiment may include four antenna units for receiving incoming wave signals reflected from the tracking satellite; wherein the tracking satellite is the satellite being tracked. Furthermore, each antenna unit includes two polarization modes, namely left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization. Only two vertical or horizontal antenna units receive satellite signals at a time. When the satellite deviates from the antenna unit by an angle, the two vertical or horizontal antenna units can receive signals containing pitch angle or horizontal angle information respectively.

[0033] Optionally, the transmission module may include a plurality of transmission lines for transmitting signals between the antenna array and the radio platform.

[0034] Optionally, the radio platform can be processed by the software radio platform of AD9361, and the phase comparison of the two-channel receiving signal is completed in the FPGA to realize the processing of transferring the analog signal to the digital domain. RS485 is used for data communication to complete the data exchange between the single board and the outside world.

[0035] In the above-mentioned satellite tracking system, the radio platform in this application only needs to determine the angle value of the tracking satellite based on the transmission angles corresponding to the multiple incoming signals, using a preset angle measurement algorithm. Compared with the difference beam angle measurement in traditional technology, only one beam is needed, reducing the complexity and cost of the entire system.

[0036] In one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, the transmission module includes: a switch submodule and a frequency conversion submodule. The switch submodule is used to control the on-off of the transmission line between the antenna array and the radio platform; the frequency conversion submodule is used to perform frequency conversion processing on multiple incoming signals according to the target frequency of the radio platform.

[0037] Wherein, the switch submodule includes a mechanical switch.

[0038] Correspondingly, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the multi-path wave signals include a first wave signal and a second wave signal, and the first wave signal is received by a first antenna unit in the antenna array, and the second wave signal is received by a second antenna unit in the antenna array, and the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit are adjacent to each other; the radio platform determines the emission angle of the multi-path wave signals according to the phase difference between the multi-path wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array, specifically for:

[0039] The transmission angle of the first incoming wave signal is determined according to the phase difference between the first incoming wave signal and the second incoming wave signal, the frequency of the first incoming wave signal, and the layout distance between the first antenna and the second antenna.

[0040] It can be understood that the emission angles corresponding to the multi-path incoming wave signals are all set to θ, which is an unknown quantity θ;

[0041] The antenna layout distance between the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit is d, and the delay distance L = dsinθ; the phase difference between the first incoming wave signal and the second incoming wave signal is Δφ; the sum of θ and Δφ is 90°, and L represents the variable distance of wave propagation.

[0042] It is understandable that based on Figure 3 and Figure 4 , we get the following formulas (1) to (6), which are used to determine the phase difference between the first incoming wave signal and the second incoming wave signal; where:

[0043]

[0044] Wherein, λ is the wavelength of the incoming wave signal, which is determined according to the frequency of the incoming wave signal.

[0045] Optionally, the frequency conversion submodule is specifically used to: adjust the signal frequencies of the multiple incoming wave signals to the target frequency of the radio platform, and keep the phase difference between the multiple incoming wave signals unchanged.

[0046] In one embodiment, the position information of the tracking satellite includes a pitch angle value of the tracking satellite.

[0047] The radio platform is used to determine the transmission angle of multiple incoming wave signals according to the phase difference between the multiple incoming wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array, specifically for:

[0048] Obtain an error compensation signal corresponding to the error situation; if the signal strength of the incoming signal reaches the error signal strength, or the current environment matches the error signal environment successfully, determine the transmission angle of the multi-path incoming signal based on the error compensation signal, the phase difference between the multi-path incoming signals, and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array.

[0049] The error situation is determined based on the error signal strength (meaning that the signal strength is less than a threshold) and the error signal environment (the degree of interference caused by the environment on signal propagation reaches a corresponding threshold).

[0050] It is understandable that the signal strength may change under different environmental information (such as cloud layer, temperature), and in the event of errors, the transmission angle determined based on the incoming signal may also have errors.

[0051] In the test environment of the satellite tracking system in this embodiment, a positioning module may be provided on the tracking satellite, and the positioning module may send real-time positioning information to the satellite tracking system in this embodiment, and obtain the satellite position information determined by the satellite tracking system according to the historical incoming wave signals in the case of errors;

[0052] The error compensation signal is determined by the difference between the real-time positioning information and the satellite position information determined based on the historical incoming wave signals.

[0053] During the use of the satellite tracking system, if the signal strength of the incoming wave signal reaches the error signal strength, or the current environment successfully matches the error signal environment, the transmission angles of the multiple incoming wave signals are compensated according to the error compensation signal.

[0054] The technical features of the above embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0055] The above embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the present application. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A satellite tracking system, characterized in that: The satellite tracking system comprises: An antenna array, wherein the antenna array is used to receive multi-path incoming wave signals sent by tracking satellites; A transmission module, connected to the antenna array, for transmitting multi-path incoming signals to the radio platform; The radio platform is used to determine the transmission angle of the multi-path wave signals according to the phase difference between the multi-path wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array; Determining the position information of the tracking satellite according to the transmission angles of the multi-path incoming wave signals; The multi-path wave signals include a first wave signal and a second wave signal, and the first wave signal is received by a first antenna unit in the antenna array, the second wave signal is received by a second antenna unit in the antenna array, and the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit are adjacent; The radio platform determines the transmission angle of the multi-path wave signals according to the phase difference between the multi-path wave signals and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array, which is specifically used for: Determine the transmission angles of the first incoming wave signal and the second incoming wave signal according to the phase difference between the first incoming wave signal and the second incoming wave signal, the frequency of the first incoming wave signal, and the layout distance between the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit; Wherein, when the radio platform determines the transmission angle of the multi-path wave signals according to the phase difference between the multi-path wave signals and the antenna arrangement distance in the antenna array, it is also used to: Obtaining an error compensation signal corresponding to an error condition; the error condition is determined based on the error signal strength and the error signal environment; If the signal strength of the incoming wave signal reaches the error signal strength, or the current environment matches the error signal environment successfully, the transmission angle of the multi-path incoming wave signal is determined according to the error compensation signal, the phase difference between the multi-path incoming wave signals, and the antenna layout distance in the antenna array; The error compensation signal corresponding to the error condition is determined in the following manner: Acquire real-time positioning information sent by a positioning module provided on the tracking satellite to the satellite tracking system, and acquire satellite position information determined by the satellite tracking system according to historical incoming wave signals under the error condition; An error compensation signal is determined based on the difference between the real-time positioning information and the satellite position information determined based on historical incoming wave signals.

2. The satellite tracking system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission module comprises: A switch submodule, used for controlling the on / off of the transmission line between the antenna array and the radio platform; The frequency conversion submodule is used to perform frequency conversion processing on multiple incoming wave signals according to the target frequency of the radio platform.

3. The satellite tracking system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The frequency conversion submodule is specifically used to adjust the signal frequencies of the multiple incoming wave signals to the target frequency of the radio platform, and to keep the phase differences between the multiple incoming wave signals unchanged.

4. The satellite tracking system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The position information of the tracking satellite includes the pitch angle value of the tracking satellite.

5. The satellite tracking system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The switch submodule includes a mechanical switch.

6. The satellite tracking system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each antenna unit in the antenna array includes two polarization modes: left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization.

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