Control station, processing system, processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide a control station that enables an antenna to track a satellite being tracked, even when it is unable to communicate with other control stations via a communication network.SOLUTION: A control station, being unable to communicate with other control stations via a communication network, comprises an acquisition unit that acquires, from a first satellite being tracked, information pertaining to a position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space; and a control unit that controls an orientation of an antenna based on the information pertaining to the position of the first satellite in the three-dimensional space, acquired by the acquisition unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control station, a processing system, a processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] An antenna device that communicates while tracking a satellite includes an antenna having axes (hereinafter referred to as "AZ axis" and "EL axis") that adjust the azimuth angle (AZ (AZimuth) angle) and the elevation angle (EL (ELevation) angle), respectively, and tracks the satellite while adjusting the angles centered on the AZ axis and the EL axis. Patent Document 1 discloses, as a related technology, a technology relating to a command system including ground stations that communicate with each other via a communication network (IP network). Patent Document 2 discloses, as a related technology, a technology relating to a device that determines the orbit of an artificial satellite. Patent Document 3 discloses, as a related technology, a technology relating to a device that determines the attitude of an artificial satellite. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 3493428 [Patent Document 2] JP 2011-005985 A [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-072000 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In general, satellite tracking by an antenna device is achieved by a control station having the antenna device and another control station exchanging information required for tracking via a communication network. Therefore, in general, if the communication network between the control station having the antenna device and another control station is cut off, the antenna device cannot track the satellite. Therefore, there is a demand for technology that allows an antenna to track a target satellite even when a control station is unable to communicate with other control stations via a communication network.

[0005] Each aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a control station, a processing system, a processing method, and a program that can solve the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a control station is a control station that is unable to communicate with other control stations via a communication network, and includes an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the position of a first satellite to be tracked in three-dimensional space from the first satellite, and a control unit that controls the orientation of an antenna based on the information regarding the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a processing system includes the above-mentioned control station and the first satellite in communication with the control station.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a processing method is executed by a control station that is unable to communicate with other control stations via a communication network, and includes obtaining information regarding a position in three-dimensional space of a first satellite to be tracked from the first satellite, and controlling an antenna orientation based on the obtained information regarding the position in three-dimensional space of the first satellite.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a program causes a computer of a control station that is unable to communicate with other control stations via a communication network to acquire information regarding the position of a first satellite to be tracked in three-dimensional space from the first satellite, and control an antenna orientation based on the acquired information regarding the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to each aspect of the present disclosure, even if a control station is unable to communicate with other control stations via a communication network, it is possible to cause an antenna to track a satellite to be tracked. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a processing system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a first satellite according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a first control station according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a predicted value output device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an antenna device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the processing system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a processing system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a first satellite according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a predicted value output device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a second control station according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of a processing system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a minimum configuration of a control station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of a control station having a minimum configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment (Processing System Configuration) A processing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The processing system 1 is a system in which an antenna can track a satellite even if a communication network between a tracking control station and another control station is cut off.

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a processing system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the processing system 1 includes a first satellite 10, a plurality of second satellites 20, and a first control station 30.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the first satellite 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 2, the first satellite 10 includes a receiving antenna 101, a calculation unit 102, and a communication unit 103. The first satellite 10 is a satellite to be tracked by an antenna device 305, which will be described later.

[0015] The receiving antenna 101 is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna. The receiving antenna 101 receives radio waves from each of a plurality of second satellites 20.

[0016] The calculation unit 102 calculates the position of the first satellite 10 at each predetermined time based on the radio waves received by the receiving antenna 101. For example, the calculation unit 102 may calculate the position of the first satellite 10 at each predetermined time using existing technology. Specifically, the GNSS is a Global Positioning System (GPS), and the calculation unit 102 may calculate the position of the first satellite 10 as (x, y, z) coordinates in an xyz Cartesian coordinate system with a predetermined position in three-dimensional space as the reference (origin) by performing a calculation similar to GPS positioning at each predetermined time. An example of the predetermined position in three-dimensional space is an Earth Centered, Earth Fixed (ECEF) Cartesian coordinate system with the center of the earth as the reference. The position of the first satellite 10, the position of a second satellite 20 (described later), and the position of an antenna device 305 (described later) are all calculated as (x, y, z) coordinates in ECEF.

[0017] The communication unit 103 transmits the calculation results (that is, a plurality of pieces of information associating a time with a position corresponding to that time) calculated by the calculation unit 102 to the first control station 30 as satellite position information.

[0018] The multiple second satellites 20 are satellites of the GNSS. The first control station 30 is a control station located on the ground. The first control station 30 is, for example, a tracking control station. The first control station 30 directs an antenna 3051 (described later) of the antenna device 305 toward the direction in which the first satellite 10 is located. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the first control station 30 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, the first control station 30 includes a receiving antenna 301, a predicted value output device 302, a control device 303, a power amplifier device 304, and an antenna device 305.

[0019] The receiving antenna 301 receives the satellite position information transmitted by the first satellite 10. For example, the receiving antenna 301 is a choke ring antenna. The choke ring antenna can receive radio waves from all directions.

[0020] The predicted value output device 302 is a device that outputs an antenna predicted value indicating the direction of the first satellite 10 as seen from the position of the antenna device 305. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the predicted value output device 302 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 4, the predicted value output device 302 includes a communication unit 3021 and a satellite direction calculation unit 3022.

[0021] The communication unit 3021 communicates with the first satellite 10 via the receiving antenna 301. For example, the communication unit 3021 receives satellite position information via the receiving antenna 301.

[0022] The satellite direction calculation unit 3022 generates a predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite 10 (i.e., the orbit of the first satellite 10) based on the satellite position information received by the communication unit 3021. For example, when the communication unit 3021 receives satellite position information, the satellite direction calculation unit 3022 calculates the future position of the first satellite 10 (e.g., at the time when the next satellite position information is received) from the past satellite position information and the latest satellite position information received by the communication unit 3021. Then, for example, the satellite direction calculation unit 3022 generates a vector (i.e., direction and length) from the position of the first satellite 10 at the time when the latest satellite position information is received to the position of the first satellite 10 at the time when the next satellite position information is received as a predicted value of the position of the first satellite 10 in the future (i.e., at the time when the next satellite position information is received). Note that the satellite direction calculation unit 3022 may generate a predicted value of the position of the first satellite 10 at a shorter time interval by interpolating the time and position while the communication unit 3021 receives the satellite position information.

[0023] In addition, the satellite direction calculation unit 3022 predicts the direction of the first satellite 10 from the antenna device 305 of the first control station 30 as an antenna predicted value based on the predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite 10 (i.e., the satellite orbit). The satellite direction calculation unit 3022 outputs the generated antenna predicted value to the control device 303.

[0024] The control device 303 generates a speed command based on the antenna prediction value output by the prediction value output device 302. Specifically, the control device 303 calculates an error from the antenna prediction value and the current antenna direction, and generates a speed command to make the error zero. The speed command generated by the control device 303 is a speed command that controls the rotation of a motor 3055 to be described later so as to orient an antenna 3051 to a position where the first satellite 10 is located, assuming that the first satellite 10 moves according to the antenna prediction value. The control device 303 outputs a speed command to the power amplifier 304, thereby controlling the rotation of the antenna device 305 about axes (hereinafter referred to as "AZ axis" and "EL axis") that adjust the azimuth angle (AZ angle) and the elevation angle (EL angle), respectively. As a result, the control device 303 can orient the antenna 3051 to be described later in a desired direction (for example, the direction in which the first satellite 10, which is the tracking target, is located). The control device 303 controls the azimuth angle and elevation angle of an antenna 3051, which will be described later, by controlling the rotation about the AZ axis and the rotation about the EL axis.

[0025] The power amplifying device 304 controls the torque of a motor 3055a (described later) for driving the AZ axis and the torque of a motor 3055b (described later) for driving the EL axis in response to a speed command output by the control device 303, and transmits the torque to a gear 3057 (described later) that rotates an antenna 3051 (described later) via a reducer 3056 (described later). This allows the power amplifying device 304 to drive the antenna 3051 (described later) in a desired direction.

[0026] The antenna device 305 is a device that directs (i.e. tracks) an antenna 3051, which will be described later, in the direction in which the first satellite 10 exists in response to a control signal generated by the control device 303. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the antenna device 305 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the antenna device 305 includes an antenna 3051, an antenna side device 3052, a base 3053, a base side device 3054, motors 3055a and 3055b, reducers 3056a and 3056b, and gears 3057a and 3057b. The motors 3055a and 3055b are collectively referred to as motor 3055. The reducers 3056a and 3056b are collectively referred to as reducer 3056. The gears 3057a and 3057b are collectively referred to as gear 3057.

[0027] The antenna 3051 transmits and receives signals to and from the first satellite 10. The antenna 3051 has a function of focusing a received signal at a focal position using one or more reflectors with a curved surface, such as a parabolic antenna, a Cassegrain antenna, a Gregorian antenna, or a ring focus antenna, or sending a transmitted signal from the focal position to a reflector.

[0028] The antenna side device 3052 is provided in a small chamber that rotates together with the EL axis on the rear side of the main reflector, as shown in Fig. 5. The antenna side device 3052 transmits and receives signals to and from the antenna 3051. The antenna side device 3052 also transmits and receives signals to and from a base side device 3054. The base 3053 supports the antenna 3051 and the antenna side device 3052 rotatably.

[0029] The base side device 3054 is provided inside the base 3053 or around the base 3053. The base side device 3054 transmits and receives signals to and from the antenna side device 3052.

[0030] The motor 3055a drives the AZ axis via a reducer 3056a and a gear 3057a under torque control by the power amplifier 304. The motor 3055b drives the EL axis via a reducer 3056b and a gear 3057b under torque control by the power amplifier 304. The reducer 3056a reduces the rotation speed of the motor 3055a and obtains the torque required to drive the antenna 3051 to rotate the gear 3057a. The reducer 3056b reduces the rotation speed of the motor 3055b via the gear 3057b and obtains the torque required to drive the antenna 3051. The gear 3057a is a gear for rotating the antenna 3051 around the AZ axis. The gear 3057b is a gear for rotating the antenna 3051 around the EL axis.

[0031] (Processing performed by the processing system) The above-described processing performed by the processing system 1 is merely an example, and the processing performed by the processing system 1 according to each embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described processing. For example, the processing system 1 may perform the processing described below.

[0032] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the processing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Next, a process of directing the antenna 3051 to the direction in which the first satellite 10 is present, which is performed by the processing system 1, will be described with reference to FIG.

[0033] The receiving antenna 101 receives radio waves from each of the multiple second satellites 20 (step S1). The calculation unit 102 calculates the position of the first satellite 10 at each predetermined time based on the radio waves received by the receiving antenna 101 (step S2). The communication unit 103 transmits the calculation results (i.e., multiple pieces of information associating a time with a position corresponding to that time) by the calculation unit 102 to the first control station 30 as satellite position information (step S3).

[0034] The communication unit 3021 receives the satellite position information transmitted by the first satellite 10 via the receiving antenna 301 (step S4). The satellite direction calculation unit 3022 generates a predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite (i.e., the orbit of the first satellite 10) based on the satellite position information received by the communication unit 3021. The satellite direction calculation unit 3022 predicts the direction of the first satellite 10 from the antenna device 305 of the first control station 30 as an antenna predicted value based on the predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite 10 (i.e., the orbit of the first satellite 10) (step S5). The satellite direction calculation unit 3022 outputs the generated antenna predicted value to the control device 303.

[0035] The control device 303 generates a speed command based on the antenna predicted value output by the predicted value output device 302 (step S6). Specifically, the control device 303 calculates an error from the antenna predicted value and the current antenna direction, and generates a speed command to make the error zero. The speed command generated by the control device 303 is a speed command that controls the rotation of a motor 3055 (described later) to orient an antenna 3051 (described later) to a position where the first satellite 10 is located, assuming that the first satellite 10 moves according to the antenna predicted value. The control device 303 outputs a speed command to the power amplifier 304. By doing so, the control device 303 controls the rotation of the antenna device 305 about the AZ axis that adjusts the azimuth angle (AZ angle) and the EL axis that adjusts the elevation angle (EL angle).

[0036] Power amplifier 304 controls the torque of motor 3055a for driving the AZ axis and the torque of motor 3055b for driving the EL axis in accordance with the speed command output by control device 303 (step S7), and the torque is transmitted to gear 3057 that rotates antenna 3051 via reducer 3056. This enables power amplifier 304 to point antenna 3051 in the desired direction (i.e., the direction in which first satellite 10 is located) in accordance with the speed command from control device 303.

[0037] (advantage) The processing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. The first control station 30 (an example of a control station) of the processing system 1 is a control station that cannot communicate with other control stations via a communication network. In the first control station 30, a communication unit 3021 (an example of an acquisition unit) acquires information related to the position of the first satellite 10 to be tracked in three-dimensional space from the first satellite 10. A control device 303 (an example of a control unit) controls the orientation of an antenna 3051 (an example of an antenna) based on the information related to the position of the first satellite 10 in three-dimensional space acquired by the communication unit 3021. This first control station 30 (an example of a control station) can cause an antenna to track the satellite to be tracked even in a state where communication with other control stations via a communication network is not possible.

[0038] <Second embodiment> (Processing System Configuration) A processing system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The processing system 1 is a system in which an antenna can track a satellite even if a communication network between a tracking control station and another control station is cut off. In the following description, differences from the processing system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be mainly described.

[0039] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a processing system 1 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 7, the processing system 1 includes a first satellite 10 and a first control station 30. In addition, as shown in Fig. 7, the processing system 1 further includes a second control station 40.

[0040] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the first satellite 10 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 8, the first satellite 10 includes a communication unit 103. The first satellite 10 is a satellite to be tracked by the antenna device 305.

[0041] The communication unit 103 communicates with the first control station 30 and the second control station 40. For example, the communication unit 103 receives an antenna predicted value, which will be described later, generated by the second control station 40. Then, the communication unit 103 transmits the received antenna predicted value to the first control station 30.

[0042] The first control station 30 includes a receiving antenna 301, a predicted value output device 302, a control device 303, a power amplifier device 304, and an antenna device 305, similar to the first control station 30 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a predicted value output device 302 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 9, the predicted value output device 302 includes a communication unit 3021 and an information processing unit 3023. The communication unit 3021 communicates with the first satellite 10 via the receiving antenna 301. For example, the communication unit 3021 receives an antenna predicted value (described later) generated by the second control station 40 via the receiving antenna 301.

[0044] The control device 303 calculates an antenna predicted value from the satellite orbit information output by the communication unit 3021. The control device 303 generates a speed command based on the antenna predicted value.

[0045] The second control station 40 is a control station that can predict the orbit along which the first satellite 10 moves. Note that the second control station 40 may use any technology to predict the orbit. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the second control station 40 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The second control station 40 includes an antenna device 401 and a trajectory calculation unit 402, as shown in FIG.

[0046] Antenna device 401 includes an antenna, and points the antenna in the direction of first satellite 10 to be tracked based on the orbit calculation result by orbit calculation unit 402. Orbit calculation unit 402 acquires ranging data calculated from the round-trip time of radio waves between first satellite 10 and antenna device 401, and ranging data using GNSS or the like. Orbit calculation unit 402 identifies the amount of change in the distance between first satellite 10 and antenna device 401 per unit time based on the acquired ranging data, the direction of antenna device 401, and the installation position (latitude and longitude) of antenna device 401. Then, the orbit calculation unit 402 generates a predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite 10 in three-dimensional space (i.e., the orbit of the first satellite 10) from the latitude and longitude of the antenna device 401, the current AZ angle of the antenna device 401, the current EL angle of the antenna device 401, the distance (ranging data) from the current antenna device 401 to the first satellite 10, the AZ angle of the antenna device 401 in the future (i.e., the time when the next satellite position information is received), the EL angle of the antenna device 401 in the future (i.e., the time when the next satellite position information is received), and the distance (ranging data) from the antenna device 401 to the first satellite 10 in the future (i.e., the time when the next satellite position information is received). The orbit calculation unit 402 predicts the direction of the first satellite 10 from the antenna device 305 of the first control station 30 as an antenna predicted value based on the predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite 10 (i.e., the orbit of the first satellite 10). The orbit calculation unit 402 transmits the antenna prediction value from the antenna device 401 to the first control station 30 via the first satellite 10.

[0047] The orbit calculation unit 402 does not only predict the predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite 10 (i.e., the orbit of the first satellite 10) and the predicted value of the antenna. For example, the orbit calculation unit 402 collects information from a plurality of control stations other than the first control station 30 to estimate the orbit of the first satellite 10 with high accuracy. Specifically, for example, the orbit calculation unit 402 collects satellite direction (AZ direction, EL direction) and distance measurement data from a plurality of control stations other than the first control station 30, corrects errors in the signal propagation path, and calculates satellite orbit information such as six elements of the orbit of the first satellite 10 (i.e., the semi-major axis, eccentricity, orbital inclination, argument of perigee, right ascension of ascending node, and time of passage through perigee). The orbit calculation unit 402 may then calculate the position of the first satellite 10 at any time from the calculated satellite orbit information.

[0048] (Processing performed by the processing system) The above-described processing performed by the processing system 1 is an example, and the processing performed by the processing system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described processing. For example, the processing system 1 may perform the processing described below. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the processing system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. Next, the processing performed by the processing system 1 to orient the antenna 3051 in the direction in which the first satellite 10 is located will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

[0049] The orbit calculation unit 402 collects satellite direction (AZ direction, EL direction) and distance measurement data from multiple control stations other than the first control station 30, corrects errors in the signal propagation path, and calculates satellite orbit information such as six elements of the orbit of the first satellite 10 (i.e., orbital semi-major axis, eccentricity, orbital inclination, argument of perigee, right ascension of ascending node, and perigee passage time) (step S11). The orbit calculation unit 402 transmits the calculated satellite orbit information from the antenna device 401 to the first satellite 10. The communication unit 103 receives the satellite orbit information from the second control station 40 (step S12). The communication unit 103 transmits the received satellite orbit information to the first control station 30 (step S13).

[0050] The communication unit 3021 receives the satellite orbit information calculated by the second control station 40 via the receiving antenna 301 (step S14). The communication unit 3021 outputs the received satellite orbit information to the control device 303.

[0051] The control device 303 calculates an antenna forecast value from the satellite orbit information output by the communication unit 3021 and the position of the own station (step S15). The control device 303 generates a speed command based on the antenna forecast value (step S6). The speed command generated by the control device 303 is a speed command that controls the rotation of the motor 3055 so as to orient the antenna 3051 to the position where the first satellite 10 is located, assuming that the first satellite 10 moves according to the antenna forecast value. The control device 303 outputs a speed command to the power amplifier 304. In this way, the control device 303 controls the rotation of the antenna device 305 around the AZ axis that adjusts the azimuth angle (AZ angle) and the EL axis that adjusts the elevation angle (EL angle).

[0052] Power amplifier 304 controls the torque of motor 3055a for driving the AZ axis and the torque of motor 3055b for driving the EL axis in accordance with the speed command output by control device 303 (step S7), and the torque is transmitted to gear 3057 that rotates antenna 3051 via reducer 3056. This enables power amplifier 304 to point antenna 3051 in the desired direction (i.e., the direction in which first satellite 10 is located) in accordance with the speed command from control device 303.

[0053] (advantage) The processing system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above. The first control station 30 (an example of a control station) of the processing system 1 is a control station that cannot communicate with the second control station 40, which is another control station, via a communication network. In the first control station 30, the communication unit 3021 (an example of an acquisition unit) acquires information related to the position of the first satellite 10 to be tracked in three-dimensional space (i.e., a predicted value of the moving direction of the first satellite 10 (i.e., the orbit of the first satellite 10) generated by the second control station 40) from the first satellite 10. The control device 303 (an example of a control unit) controls the orientation of the antenna 3051 (an example of an antenna) based on the information related to the position of the first satellite 10 in three-dimensional space acquired by the communication unit 3021. This first control station 30 (an example of a control station) can make the antenna track the satellite to be tracked even in a state where it cannot communicate with another control station via a communication network.

[0054] Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating a minimum configuration of the control station 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 12, the control station 30 includes an acquisition unit 501 and a control unit 502. The control station 30 is a control station that cannot communicate with other control stations via a communication network.

[0055] The acquisition unit 501 acquires information relating to the position of a first satellite to be tracked in three-dimensional space from the first satellite. The control unit 502 controls the orientation of the antenna based on the information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space acquired by the acquisition unit 501.

[0056] The acquisition unit 501 can be realized, for example, by using the function of the communication unit 3021 illustrated in Fig. 4 or 9. The control unit 502 can be realized, for example, by using the function of the control device 303 illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0057] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the control station 30 with a minimum configuration according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Next, processing of the control station 30 with a minimum configuration according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG.

[0058] The acquisition unit 501 acquires information relating to the position of a first satellite to be tracked in three-dimensional space from the first satellite (step S101). The control unit 502 controls the orientation of the antenna based on the information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space acquired by the acquisition unit 501 (step S102).

[0059] The above describes a minimum configuration of the control station 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. This control station 30 can cause the antenna to track the target satellite even when it is not possible to communicate with other control stations via a communication network.

[0060] It should be noted that the order of the processes in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be changed as long as appropriate processes are performed.

[0061] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the above-mentioned processing system 1, the first satellite 10, the multiple second satellites 20, the first control station 30, the second control station 40, and other control devices may have a computer system inside. The above-mentioned process steps are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-mentioned processes are performed by the computer reading and executing this program. Specific examples of computers are shown below.

[0062] 14 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a computer according to at least one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, the computer 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6, a main memory 7, a storage 8, and an interface 9.

[0063] For example, the above-mentioned processing system 1, the first satellite 10, each of the multiple second satellites 20, the first control station 30, the second control station 40, and each of the other control devices are implemented in a computer 5. The operations of each of the above-mentioned processing units are stored in the storage 8 in the form of a program. The CPU 6 reads the program from the storage 8 and loads it in the main memory 7, and executes the above-mentioned processing in accordance with the program. The CPU 6 also secures storage areas in the main memory 7 corresponding to each of the above-mentioned storage units in accordance with the program.

[0064] Examples of the storage 8 include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM), and a semiconductor memory. The storage 8 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of the computer 5, or an external medium connected to the computer 5 via an interface 9 or a communication line. In addition, when the program is distributed to the computer 5 via a communication line, the computer 5 that receives the program may load the program into the main memory 7 and execute the above-mentioned process. In at least one embodiment, the storage 8 is a non-transitory tangible storage medium.

[0065] The program may also realize some of the functions described above. Furthermore, the program may be a file that can realize the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system, that is, a so-called differential file (differential program).

[0066] Although some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, these embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Various additions, omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

[0067] Note that some or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0068] (Appendix 1) A control station that is in a state where it cannot communicate with other control stations via a communication network, an acquisition unit that acquires information relating to a position of a first satellite to be tracked in a three-dimensional space from the first satellite; a control unit that controls an antenna orientation based on information related to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space acquired by the acquisition unit; A control station equipped with

[0069] (Appendix 2) The information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space is information indicating a position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space at each predetermined time, a prediction unit that predicts a future position of the first satellite based on the information indicating the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space for each of the predetermined times acquired by the acquisition unit; Equipped with The acquisition unit is acquiring information indicating a position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space at each of the predetermined times from the first satellite; The control unit is controlling the orientation of the antenna based on the future position of the first satellite predicted by the prediction unit; The control station referred to in Appendix 1.

[0070] (Appendix 3) The information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space is information indicating a future position of the first satellite predicted by the other control station; The acquisition unit is acquiring, from the first satellite, a future position of the first satellite acquired through communication between the first satellite and the other control station; The control unit is controlling the orientation of the antenna based on the future position of the first satellite acquired by the acquisition unit; The control station referred to in Appendix 1.

[0071] (Appendix 4) The control unit is controlling the orientation of the antenna by controlling rotation about an axis that adjusts the azimuth angle of the antenna and rotation about an axis that adjusts the elevation angle of the antenna; 2. A control station as described in any one of appendices 1 to 3.

[0072] (Appendix 5) A control station according to any one of appendices 1 to 4; The first satellite that communicates with the control station; A processing system comprising:

[0073] (Appendix 6) A processing method executed by a control station in a state in which communication with other control stations is not possible via a communication network, comprising: acquiring information relating to a position of a first satellite to be tracked in a three-dimensional space from the first satellite; Controlling an antenna orientation based on the acquired information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space; A processing method comprising:

[0074] (Appendix 7) The computer of a control station that cannot communicate with other control stations via the communication network acquiring information relating to a position of a first satellite to be tracked in a three-dimensional space from the first satellite; Controlling an antenna orientation based on the acquired information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space; A program that executes the following. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1. Processing system 5. Computers 6. CPU 7. Main memory 8. Storage 9. Interface 10...1st satellite 20...2nd satellite 30...1st control station (control station) 40...Second control station 101, 301... Receiving antenna 102...Arithmetic section 103, 3021... Communications Department 302: Prediction value output device 303... Control device 304 Power amplifier 305, 401... Antenna device 402...Trajectory calculation section 501...Acquisition Department 502 Control section 3022...Satellite direction calculation section 3023 Information Processing Unit 3051···Antenna 3052 Antenna side equipment 3053...Base 3054 Base side equipment 3055, 3055a, 3055b...Motor 3056, 3056a, 3056b...Reducer 3057, 3057a, 3057b... Gear

Claims

1. A control station that is in a state where it cannot communicate with other control stations via a communication network, an acquisition unit that acquires information relating to a position of a first satellite to be tracked in a three-dimensional space from the first satellite; a control unit that controls an antenna orientation based on information related to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space acquired by the acquisition unit; A control station equipped with

2. The information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space is information indicating a position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space at each predetermined time, a prediction unit that predicts a future position of the first satellite based on the information indicating the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space at each of the predetermined times acquired by the acquisition unit; Equipped with The acquisition unit is acquiring information indicating a position of the first satellite in a three-dimensional space at each of the predetermined times from the first satellite; The control unit is controlling a direction of the antenna based on the future position of the first satellite predicted by the prediction unit; The control station according to claim 1.

3. The information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space is information indicating a future position of the first satellite predicted by the other control station; The acquisition unit is acquiring, from the first satellite, a future position of the first satellite acquired through communication between the first satellite and the other control station; The control unit is controlling an orientation of the antenna based on a future position of the first satellite acquired by the acquisition unit; The control station according to claim 1.

4. The control unit is controlling the orientation of the antenna by controlling rotation about an axis that adjusts the azimuth angle of the antenna and rotation about an axis that adjusts the elevation angle of the antenna; The control station according to claim 1.

5. A control station according to any one of claims 1 to 4; the first satellite communicating with the control station; A processing system comprising:

6. A processing method executed by a control station in a state in which communication with other control stations is not possible via a communication network, comprising: acquiring information relating to a position of a first satellite to be tracked in a three-dimensional space from the first satellite; Controlling an antenna orientation based on the acquired information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space; A processing method comprising:

7. The computer of a control station that cannot communicate with other control stations via the communication network acquiring information relating to a position of a first satellite to be tracked in a three-dimensional space from the first satellite; Controlling an antenna orientation based on the acquired information relating to the position of the first satellite in three-dimensional space; A program that executes the following.

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