Mobile Ground Station SDR Processing for Disconnected Satellite Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in processing satellite sensor data at field locations with limited or intermittent connectivity, leading to delays and inefficiencies in data transmission and manipulation due to bandwidth constraints and the need for local processing of time-sensitive data.
Innovation Solution
A mobile ground station equipped with software-defined radios and specialized hardware, such as GPUs and FPGAs, processes satellite sensor data locally, supporting multiple satellite service providers and transforming data into consumable forms for users, while utilizing cloud provider networks for enhanced connectivity and fault tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If satellite sensor data is transmitted to field locations with limited connectivity, then data can be accessed by users in remote areas, but data processing delays occur due to bandwidth constraints and intermittent connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile ground station performs data processing actions in advance by receiving and processing satellite sensor data locally at field locations before users need to access it. The station processes raw satellite data into usable products while disconnected from terrestrial networks, eliminating the need to transmit large volumes of raw data through bandwidth-constrained channels and avoiding processing delays that would occur if data were transmitted first and then processed later.
2Productivity
If satellite sensor data is processed at a distant location and then transmitted to field locations, then centralized processing resources can be utilized, but additional round-trip communication delays are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the data processing location based on connectivity conditions. The mobile ground station is designed to operate autonomously when disconnected from terrestrial networks, performing all necessary data processing functions locally. When connectivity is available, it can synchronize with or receive updates from centralized processing systems. This dynamic operation allows the station to eliminate round-trip communication delays for time-sensitive data while still benefiting from centralized processing resources when connected.
3Quantity of substance
If large volumes of raw satellite sensor data are transmitted through limited bandwidth channels, then complete data sets can be delivered to field locations, but transmission time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile ground station extracts and processes only the essential data elements locally by receiving raw satellite sensor data and immediately converting it into processed data products at the field location. This extraction approach eliminates the need to transmit complete raw data sets through bandwidth-constrained channels. The station processes the data in place, delivering only the necessary processed information to users, thereby dramatically reducing transmission time while still providing complete and useful data products.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for processing of satellite sensor data by a mobile ground station are described. A satellite transmission from a tasked satellite is received by a mobile ground station, the satellite transmission including unprocessed downlink data. A software-defined radio (SDR) definition associated with a tasked satellite is selected from a plurality of SDR definitions stored by the mobile ground station. A sensor data processing (SDP) application associated with the tasked satellite is selected from a plurality of SDP applications stored by the mobile ground station. An SDR application is executed to extract the collected sensor data from the unprocessed downlink data, the SDR application is loaded with the selected SDR definition. The selected SDP application is executed to generate a product from the collected sensor data. The product is caused to be displayed on a display device.