Predictive Antenna Beam Steering for Air Mobility Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air mobility systems face challenges in efficiently communicating with ground-based communication targets due to the need for stable navigation and communication, particularly in dynamic flight conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a GNSS receiver, antenna array, and controller to identify and predict relative directions for wireless signal deflection, utilizing sensors for movement data, and controlling the antenna array to ensure effective communication with both fixed and moving targets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the antenna array performs beamforming for efficient communication, then communication efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases due to the need for precise directional control and movement prediction
Solution Approach 1:
The controller predicts the second relative direction of the communication target based on the movement state of the air mobility before adjusting the beamforming direction. This preliminary action allows the antenna array to proactively align with the future position of the communication target, maintaining communication efficiency during movement without requiring complex real-time tracking adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously obtains movement state information (velocity, acceleration, orientation) from sensors and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the beamforming direction. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to changing movement conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through iterative optimization
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air mobility moves dynamically during flight, then mobility and versatility are improved, but communication stability deteriorates due to changing relative directions with ground-based targets
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the beamforming direction based on real-time movement state information from sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS). The controller continuously updates the relative direction calculation as the air mobility moves, allowing the communication system to adapt to changing positions and maintain stable connectivity with ground-based targets throughout the flight trajectory
Solution Approach 2:
The controller predicts future relative directions based on current movement state before the air mobility actually changes position. This predictive approach allows the beamforming to be adjusted in advance, ensuring communication stability is maintained even during rapid or unpredictable movements
Data Source
AI summary
An air mobility includes a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, an antenna array, and a controller electrically connected to the GNSS receiver and the antenna array. The controller is configured to identify a first location of the air mobility including an altitude of the air mobility based on an output of the GNSS receiver, identify a first relative direction of facing a communication target with respect to the first location of the air mobility, control the antenna array so that a wireless signal by the antenna array is deflected in the first relative direction, predict a second relative direction of facing the communication target based on a movement of the air mobility, and control the antenna array so that the wireless signal by the antenna array is deflected in the second relative direction.