ATG Communication Test Bench with Simulated Flight Channels

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of providing cost-effective and efficient testing of aircraft communication systems before installation, particularly for air-to-ground (ATG) networks, is hindered by the need for expensive test flights to confirm performance and provisioning, which is not feasible due to high costs and limited ground-based simulation capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic bench testing platform is developed to simulate ATG communication environments, incorporating a position simulator and channel simulator to emulate flight conditions, allowing for comprehensive testing of aircraft base radios and base stations on the ground, thereby reducing the need for test flights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If test flights are performed to confirm performance of new equipment, then reliability of communication system is improved, but cost and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance confirmationVSAvoidtesting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing and validation of communication equipment in a lab environment using simulated flight conditions before actual installation. The position simulator and channel simulator create virtual flight scenarios that allow complete system testing without requiring actual test flights, thus confirming performance in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a virtual copy of actual flight conditions through simulation. The position simulator generates simulated aircraft position information and the channel simulator emulates real channel conditions, creating a virtual environment that replicates actual flight testing without the associated costs and time requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If test flights are performed to confirm performance of new equipment, then reliability of communication system is improved, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance confirmationVSAvoidtesting cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing and validation of communication equipment in a lab environment using simulated flight conditions before actual installation. The position simulator and channel simulator create virtual flight scenarios that allow complete system testing without requiring actual test flights, thus confirming performance in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a virtual copy of actual flight conditions through simulation. The position simulator generates simulated aircraft position information and the channel simulator emulates real channel conditions, creating a virtual environment that replicates actual flight testing without the associated costs and time requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of time

If ground-based simulation is used to test communication systems, then cost and time are reduced, but measurement precision and realism deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting timeVSAvoidsimulation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic simulation that adapts to different flight scenarios. The position simulator can generate various flight paths and conditions, and the channel simulator dynamically adjusts channel characteristics based on the simulated aircraft position and environment, making the ground-based testing as realistic as possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a virtual copy of actual flight conditions through simulation. The position simulator generates simulated aircraft position information and the channel simulator emulates real channel conditions, creating a virtual environment that replicates actual flight testing without the associated costs and time requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12500679B2Dynamic test bench for aircraft system testing

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 SMARTSKY NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

An air to ground (ATG) communication system testing platform may be configured to operably couple a base station to an aircraft base radio in a lab environment. The testing platform may include a position simulator and a channel simulator. The position simulator may be configured to generate simulated aircraft position information and communicate the simulated aircraft position information to an aircraft base radio and a base band unit of the base station. The channel simulator may operably couple a remote radio head of the base station to the aircraft base radio, and may be configured to emulate channel conditions with respect to transmission of signaling generated by the remote radio head for communication to the aircraft base radio based on the emulated channel conditions.