Spacecraft cluster multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method and system based on spaceflight simulation system

Abstract

The invention relates to a spacecraft cluster multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method and system, in particular to a spacecraft cluster multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method and system based on a spaceflight simulation system. The invention aims to solve the problem that the existing spacecraft trunking communication depends on centralized scheduling or a synchronization protocol. Through an asynchronous communication mechanism with a data center as a core and a distributed forwarding strategy driven by a communication list, integration of decoupling communication between components in a spacecraft and efficient information diffusion between clusters is achieved, and the performance bottleneck of a traditional method under the environment of high delay, signal interference and dynamic topology change is broken through. The method supports data consistency, system robustness and cooperation capability of a spacecraft cluster in complex space tasks, and is suitable for communication simulation and verification of high dynamic scenes such as satellite constellations and deep space exploration. The invention belongs to the technical field of spaceflight simulation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method and system for spacecraft clusters, belonging to the field of aerospace simulation technology. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of aerospace technology, spacecraft swarms, represented by satellite constellations, are widely used in missions such as space exploration, communication relay, and Earth observation. A spacecraft swarm typically consists of multiple autonomous spacecraft, each carrying heterogeneous components such as sensors and communication modules. Efficient communication mechanisms are needed to achieve data sharing, attitude coordination, and mission collaboration. To support such complex scenarios, aerospace simulation systems have become crucial tools for mission planning, verification, and optimization. Existing aerospace simulation systems typically include a simulation engine, model library, memory, data storage and distribution system, and display module, used to simulate the dynamics, interaction, and communication behavior of spacecraft in the space environment. The simulation engine calls spacecraft models and their components from the model library, combines them with user-inputted initialization data, executes step functions in memory to simulate swarm behavior, and stores the data in the data storage and distribution system for subsequent analysis and visualization.

[0003] However, efficient communication faces numerous challenges in both simulation and practical applications of spacecraft swarm communication. High latency, radiated interference, dynamic topology changes, and communication link instability in the space environment significantly impact information synchronization efficiency, especially as swarm size increases, traditional communication frameworks struggle to meet real-time and scalability requirements. Existing technologies primarily rely on centralized architectures, point-to-point communication, or synchronization protocols for data exchange. These mechanisms exhibit significant limitations in scenarios with restricted communication, link interference, or concurrent transmission by multiple spacecraft: centralized communication requires confirmation or central decision-making, resulting in high latency and poor fault tolerance; synchronization protocols have strict clock consistency requirements, making them difficult to adapt to dynamic environments; and point-to-point transmission, lacking global optimization, struggles to support rapid information dissemination across large-scale swarms.

[0004] Furthermore, existing aerospace simulation systems, when simulating cluster communication, typically focus on dynamics or mission scheduling, lacking detailed modeling of multi-level communication mechanisms. In traditional simulation frameworks, communication between spacecraft internal components and between the cluster is often handled separately, lacking a unified asynchronous data interaction mechanism, resulting in insufficient data consistency and limited conflict resolution capabilities. Therefore, existing solutions struggle to support rapid mission switching and component-level response, limiting the cluster's autonomy and robustness in complex space missions.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a distributed asynchronous communication method and system based on aerospace simulation systems. This method should design a multi-level communication mechanism for spacecraft clusters, support decoupled communication between components within an entity and efficient information diffusion between clusters, and achieve autonomous closed-loop communication without the need for central authentication or strict synchronization. This would improve communication efficiency, fault tolerance, and data consistency, and provide reliable simulation and verification support for complex space missions. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the problem of reliance on centralized scheduling or synchronization protocols in existing spacecraft cluster communication, this invention proposes a multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method and system for spacecraft clusters based on a space simulation system.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems is as follows: The steps of the multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method for spacecraft clusters based on aerospace simulation system described in the present invention include: Step 1: Initialize the simulation system, configure the spacecraft model according to user input, initialize the communication list, functional components and data hub module, collect environmental data and generate structured records containing timestamps, and asynchronously write them to the data hub module; Step 2: Implement asynchronous communication between internal spacecraft components through the data hub module, supporting communication components to read records from the data hub; Step 3: Complete communication between spacecraft entities within the cluster. Based on the communication list, spacecraft entities broadcast data from the data hub to the target spacecraft, and the receiver updates the records in the data hub according to the timestamp. Step 4: Dynamically update the communication list and adjust the forwarding targets according to task requirements or topology changes; Step 5: Generate a dynamic cluster topology diagram based on the communication records between spacecraft, and calculate the Laplace matrix to analyze cluster connectivity and stability.

[0008] Furthermore, the functional components in step 1 include communication components and sensor components. The data hub module uses structured tables to store data, and the records include data ID, timestamp, and data content.

[0009] Furthermore, in step 2, the asynchronous communication within the spacecraft includes asynchronous reading of data from the data hub by other functional components, without the need for synchronous control between components.

[0010] Furthermore, in step 3, the communication between spacecraft entities within the cluster includes two functions: forwarding and receiving. The spacecraft performs fractional data forwarding based on a dynamic communication list. After receiving an external message, it parses the recipient's representation: if it is itself, the data is stored in the data hub, and the record is updated by comparing timestamps, retaining only the latest data to ensure consistency.

[0011] Furthermore, in step 4, the dynamic updating of the communication list is achieved through the update function of the simulation engine, and the data spacecraft position supports adaptive communication.

[0012] Furthermore, in step 5, the dynamic cluster topology graph is generated based on communication records, with nodes representing spacecraft and edges representing communication links. The Laplace matrix is ​​calculated using L = DA, where D represents the degree matrix and A represents the adjacency matrix, used to quantify cluster connectivity and support task optimization.

[0013] The multi-level broadcast-diffusion communication system for spacecraft clusters based on aerospace simulation systems described in this invention includes: The generalized components and data hub module are assembled into spacecraft communication entities in the simulation system. Each spacecraft maintains a communication list, recording the target spacecraft it forwards to. The standardized data structure enables the compatibility of heterogeneous components, overcomes the latency problem of traditional synchronous communication in resource-constrained environments, and improves the real-time performance and decoupling of data processing inside the spacecraft. The general-purpose components include communication components and other functional components. The sensor components are used to collect data and encapsulate the data into structured records containing timestamps, which are then asynchronously written to the data hub module. The data hub acts as a shared intermediary, allowing any component to read it at any time without direct interaction. The spacecraft physical assembly and communication module receives messages from other spacecraft. The spacecraft parses the recipient information in the message: if the recipient is itself, it stores the data in the data hub and updates conflicting data by comparing timestamps; every preset time interval, the spacecraft forwards its own data in the data hub and other received data to the target in the communication list, forming a distributed information diffusion; this module supports dynamic topology changes to ensure efficient information propagation in the cluster. The cluster communication simulation effect demonstration module generates a dynamic cluster topology map based on the communication records between spacecraft in each simulation cycle, and calculates the Laplace matrix to quantitatively analyze the connectivity and stability of the spacecraft cluster. This function is embedded in the aerospace simulation system, supports real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment, and significantly enhances the simulation system's ability to analyze complex tasks. The end-to-end asynchronous communication mechanism employs a decoupled link of "data acquisition - asynchronous access - distributed forwarding" throughout the entire communication process. Within the spacecraft, asynchronous communication between components is achieved through a data hub, while within the cluster, information is disseminated through communication lists and periodic forwarding, eliminating the need for synchronous control or distribution by a central node. This mechanism can maintain the stability and consistency of information sharing even under conditions such as signal interference, link interruption, or topology changes, demonstrating high robustness and scalability.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. This invention proposes an asynchronous communication mechanism based on a data hub. By setting up a data hub module within each spacecraft, the data collected by the communication components is encapsulated into structured records containing timestamps, and asynchronous access is supported. This mechanism eliminates the need for direct interaction or synchronous control between components. Through standardized data structures, it achieves compatible expression of heterogeneous data, significantly enhancing the decoupling of functions within the spacecraft and cross-component versatility, providing efficient and flexible data management support for resource-constrained space environments.

[0015] 2. This invention constructs a distributed information diffusion mechanism based on a communication list. Each spacecraft maintains the communication list and periodically forwards messages, achieving efficient information propagation and convergence between the cluster. After receiving a message, the spacecraft autonomously identifies the recipient and stores or forwards the data, without requiring coordination or real-time confirmation from a central node. This mechanism completely eliminates the dependence on a master control node in traditional centralized communication, supports autonomous information sharing under dynamic topology changes and communication-constrained scenarios, and significantly improves the robustness and scalability of cluster communication.

[0016] 3. This invention designs a timestamp-driven conflict resolution mechanism. By attaching a timestamp to each data record and comparing the timestamps when receiving new data, only the latest data is retained to overwrite the old data. This mechanism achieves consistency in multi-source data fusion through lightweight version control, eliminating the need for complex consensus algorithms and adapting to high-latency scenarios in space environments. This design features high fault tolerance and low computational overhead, making it particularly suitable for aerospace missions with strong signal interference or intermittent communication.

[0017] 4. This invention employs a modular architecture design for communication components and a data hub, achieving asynchronous communication throughout the entire process from data acquisition to inter-cluster distribution. Each spacecraft's communication components and data hub module are independent units, flexibly embeddable into different types of spacecraft platforms, supporting platform independence, data type independence, and mission scenario scalability. This design not only enhances the system's scalability and deployment flexibility but also facilitates modular portability to other spacecraft cluster missions (such as satellite constellations and deep space exploration), providing stable and efficient communication capabilities for future complex space missions.

[0018] 5. By dynamically generating cluster topology diagrams and calculating Laplace matrices, the system can reflect the connectivity relationships between spacecraft in real time and quantify the cluster's connectivity and stability. This mechanism provides mathematical support for mission optimization, communication bottleneck detection, and real-time monitoring, enhancing the analytical capabilities and decision-making efficiency of aerospace simulation systems in complex missions. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall framework of the simulation system of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the multi-level communication framework for spacecraft designed in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the data structure stored in the data hub module designed in this invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cluster communication initialization design of this invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the first round of information transmission in the cluster communication designed in this invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the second round of information transmission in the cluster communication designed in this invention; Figure 7 This is a cluster topology diagram generated by the system designed in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Specific Implementation Method 1: A multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method for spacecraft clusters based on an aerospace simulation system, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Simulation System Initialization and Data Acquisition. Based on the user-input initialization data, the simulation engine loads spacecraft models from the model library and configures the communication lists and data hub modules for each spacecraft. The spacecraft's sensing components collect environmental data, generate structured data records containing timestamps, and asynchronously write them to the local data hub module. The data records use a standardized format, supporting compatibility with heterogeneous components and providing a unified interface for subsequent internal communication and inter-cluster forwarding. Step 2: Asynchronous communication between spacecraft components; The data hub module stores data from the spacecraft itself and other spacecraft in a structured table format, including attitude, sensor information, and timestamps; Communication components or other functional components asynchronously read data from the data hub without the need for inter-component synchronization control; The data hub supports fast retrieval and updates, adapts to resource-constrained environments, and improves the efficiency and flexibility of internal data processing; Step 3: Communication between spacecraft entities within the cluster; spacecraft entities perform distributed data forwarding based on a dynamic communication list; upon receiving an external message, they parse the receiver's identifier: if it is themselves, the data is stored in the data hub, and the record is updated by comparing timestamps, retaining only the latest data to ensure consistency; if it is not themselves, they do not receive the message; each cycle, the spacecraft packages the data in the data hub and broadcasts it to the target spacecraft in the communication list, and entities not on the list do not store the message after receiving it; through multiple forwardings, information spreads and converges in the cluster; this mechanism does not require central coordination and is adaptable to dynamic topologies and communication-constrained environments; Step 4, Communication List Maintenance and Dynamic Update; The communication list is configured by the user during initialization and records the target spacecraft identifier; The simulation engine provides update functions, allowing users to adjust the content of the communication list based on mission requirements or topology changes, add or remove target spacecraft, and support adaptive communication of the cluster; Step 5, Cluster Topology Generation and State Analysis; In each cycle, the simulation system generates a dynamic cluster topology graph based on the spacecraft's interaction records, reflecting the connectivity between spacecraft, and calculates the Laplace matrix. L = D – A(1) Where D is the degree matrix, and is a diagonal matrix with elements It equals the degree of the i-th spacecraft (i.e., the number of spacecraft directly connected to it); A is the adjacency matrix. If spacecraft i and spacecraft j have a communication link, then Otherwise, it is 0; if the second smallest eigenvalue of L (algebraic connectivity) 2) A value greater than 0 indicates that the cluster topology is connected, and at the same time... The value of 2 determines the convergence speed of cluster information diffusion; Let the communication topology be... ,in For spacecraft assembly, For a set of communication links, each link is assigned a delay weight. The system can define the topological diameter: (2) in This represents the shortest path transmission delay from spacecraft i to j; this value is the upper bound of the worst-case delay for information diffusion within the cluster, providing a verifiable delay metric for mission planning. The depth h of the spanning tree structure tree of the communication topology can be represented, and each forwarding cycle is denoted as h. Then the broadcast completion time satisfies: (3) Example This invention proposes a multi-level broadcast-diffusion communication method and system for spacecraft clusters based on aerospace simulation systems. It aims to simulate scenarios of multi-spacecraft information interaction in complex space environments, achieving efficient spacecraft-level and cluster-level communication. The system includes a simulation engine, model library, memory, data storage and distribution system, and display and process management modules. The communication function is integrated into the communication components and data hub module of the spacecraft model, supporting asynchronous data processing, distributed forwarding, and dynamic topology analysis.

[0021] like Figure 1 The diagram illustrates how the simulation engine calls upon spacecraft and component models from the model library to perform simulations in memory, enabling data interaction between components and spacecraft, and outputting visualized results through a data storage and distribution system. The following sections, using typical embodiments, detail the system architecture, communication processes, and implementation of key modules.

[0022] like Figure 2As shown, the framework includes communication mechanisms at two levels: spacecraft and constellation. Each spacecraft entity includes sensor components, communication components, and a data hub module. The sensor components collect environmental data (such as pose and sensor information), generate structured records containing timestamps, and asynchronously write them to the data hub module. The data hub module acts as an internal shared intermediary, supporting decoupled communication between components: the communication components can asynchronously read records from the data hub at any time for subsequent processing or forwarding without direct synchronization between components. For example, in a typical satellite constellation simulation scenario, the sensor components of spacecraft A collect position data (x=1000, y=2000, z=3000), status (good), and timestamp t=2025-09-20 10:00:00, generating the record {ID: A_Pos1, Timestamp: t, Position: (1000, 2000, 3000), state: good}, and write it to the data hub. After reading this record, the communication components can use it for internal task coordination. This framework, through its decoupled design, improves the real-time performance and compatibility of data processing within spacecraft, making it suitable for resource-constrained, highly dynamic environments.

[0023] like Figure 3 As shown, the data is presented in a table format, with each row containing fields such as data ID, timestamp, and data content. The storage method supports key-value pair retrieval; when new information is received, the timestamp is compared and the old record is overwritten. This structure supports rapid updates and cleanup of expired data, ensuring data consistency and storage efficiency, and facilitating use by the simulation engine.

[0024] The communication process at the spacecraft cluster level comprises five main steps, ultimately generating a dynamic topology graph and a Laplace matrix. The specific implementation is as follows: Step 1: Simulation System Initialization. The simulation engine loads the spacecraft model based on user input, configures the communication list and the initial state of the data hub module, such as... Figure 4 As shown.

[0025] Step 2: Communication between internal spacecraft components. The sensing components asynchronously write data to the data center, and the communication components read the records, enabling asynchronous internal interaction.

[0026] Step 3: Inter-spacecraft communication within the cluster. Spacecraft broadcast packaged data from the data hub based on the communication list, adding receiver information to the packet header. Simultaneously, spacecraft receive data packets from other spacecraft; if the receiver is itself, it stores the data in the data hub and compares them using timestamps. Through iterative forwarding, cluster data diffusion is achieved. In this example, after the first round of information diffusion, spacecraft C obtains data from all spacecraft, while the data hubs of other spacecraft store data from their own spacecraft and data from spacecraft C, respectively. Figure 5As shown; after the second round of information dissemination, all spacecraft achieved information sharing, such as Figure 6 As shown Step 4: Dynamically update the communication list. The simulation engine calls the update function to adjust the list according to topology changes during the simulation cycle, supporting adaptive communication.

[0027] Step 5: Cluster Topology Generation and State Analysis. Based on communication records between spacecraft, a dynamic topology graph is generated, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the Laplacian matrix L = D - A (where D is the degree matrix and A is the adjacency matrix) is calculated. In this example, the degree matrix D is as follows:

[0028] The adjacency matrix A is as follows:

[0029] The calculated Laplace matrix is ​​as follows:

[0030] The communication system of this invention is suitable for mission scenarios such as satellite constellation coordination and deep space exploration, maintaining information sharing under highly dynamic and high-interference conditions. Through multi-level design and dynamic topology analysis, the accuracy and practicality of the simulation system are improved. Compared with traditional methods, this invention reduces communication latency, improves fault tolerance, and provides mathematical tools for cluster optimization.

[0031] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, based on the technical essence of the present invention and within the spirit and principles of the present invention, shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A spacecraft cluster multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method based on a space simulation system, characterized in that, The specific steps include: Step 1, initialize the simulation system, configure the spacecraft model according to user input, initialize the communication list, functional components and data hub module, collect environmental data and generate structured records containing timestamps, and write asynchronously to the data hub module; Step 2, realize asynchronous communication between spacecraft internal components through the data hub module, support communication components to read records in the data hub; Step 3, complete the communication of spacecraft entities within the cluster. Spacecraft broadcasts data in the data hub to target spacecraft based on the communication list, and the receiver updates the records in the data hub according to the timestamp; Step 4, dynamically update the communication list, adjust the forwarding target according to the task demand or topological change; Step 5, generate a dynamic cluster topology graph according to the communication records between spacecraft, and calculate the Laplacian matrix for analyzing the connectivity and stability of the cluster.

2. The spacecraft cluster multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method based on a space simulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 1, the functional components include communication components and sensor components, and the data hub module uses a structured table to store data, including data ID, timestamp and data content.

3. The spacecraft cluster multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method based on a space simulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 2, the asynchronous communication between spacecraft includes or other functional components asynchronously reading data in the data hub, without the need for synchronization control between components.

4. The spacecraft cluster multi-level broadcast diffusion communication method based on a space simulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 3, the communication of spacecraft entities within the cluster includes forwarding and receiving functions. Spacecraft performs fractional data forwarding based on the dynamic communication list, and after receiving external messages, parses the receiver representation: if it is itself, the data is stored in the data hub, and the record is updated by comparing the timestamp, only the latest data is retained to ensure consistency.

5. The spacecraft cluster multi-tier broadcast diffusion communication method based on a space simulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 4, the dynamic update of the communication list is realized through the update function of the simulation engine, and the data spacecraft position supports adaptive communication.

6. The spacecraft cluster multi-tier broadcast diffusion communication method based on a space simulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step 5, the dynamic cluster topology graph is generated based on the communication records, with nodes representing spacecraft and edges representing communication links. The Laplacian matrix is calculated by L = D - A, where D represents the degree matrix and A represents the adjacency matrix, which is used to quantify the connectivity of the cluster and support task optimization.

7. A system for implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, It includes: Generalized components and data hub module, which are assembled into spacecraft communication entities in the simulation system. Each spacecraft maintains a communication list, which records the target spacecraft it forwards to. Through standardized data structures, heterogeneous components are compatible, overcoming the delay problem of traditional synchronous communication in resource-constrained environments, and improving the real-time and decoupling of spacecraft internal data processing; Among them, the generalized components include communication components and other functional components, and the sensor components are used to collect data and package them into structured records containing timestamps, which are written asynchronously to the data hub module; The data hub acts as a shared intermediary, supporting any component to read at any time without direct interaction; Spacecraft entity assembly and communication module, after receiving messages sent by other spacecraft, the spacecraft parses the receiver information in the message: if the receiver is itself, the data is stored in the data hub, and the conflicting data is updated by comparing the timestamp; every preset time interval, the spacecraft forwards the data in the data hub to the target in the communication list, forming a distributed information diffusion; This module supports dynamic topological changes to ensure efficient propagation of information in the cluster; The cluster communication simulation effect display module generates a dynamic cluster topology graph and calculates a Laplacian matrix for quantitatively analyzing the connectivity and stability of the spacecraft cluster according to the communication records between the spacecrafts in each simulation cycle. The function is embedded in the space simulation system, supports real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment, and significantly enhances the analysis capability of the simulation system for complex tasks. The full-link asynchronous communication mechanism adopts a decoupling link of "data acquisition-asynchronous access-distributed forwarding" in the whole communication process. The spacecrafts realize asynchronous communication between components through a data hub, and realize information diffusion through a communication list and periodic forwarding within the cluster, without the need for synchronization control or central node distribution. Under conditions such as signal interference, link interruption or topology change, the mechanism can still maintain the stability and consistency of information sharing, with high robustness and scalability.

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