NGSO Satellite Constellation Handover with Single Antenna
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-Geosynchronous Orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations require fast and expensive antenna steering for handovers, which can be costly and complex, especially for mechanically tracking dish antennas, as they need to continuously re-point to maintain communication links.
Innovation Solution
Configuring NGSO satellite constellations with specific geometric and timing specifications to ensure that two satellites are at the same location in the sky during handovers, allowing for Make-Before-Break (MBB) handovers without antenna re-pointing using a single mechanically steered dish antenna, employing a back-and-forth tracking pattern or two-dimensional spherical shapes to maintain continuous communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fast steering is used for handovers, then handover speed is improved, but antenna cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The satellite constellation is configured in advance with specific geometric and timing specifications so that two satellites will be at approximately the same location in the sky during handover. This preliminary configuration allows the antenna to maintain its pointing direction while switching between satellites, eliminating the need for fast mechanical re-pointing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the orbital parameters (geometry and timing specifications) of the satellite constellation to enable handovers without antenna re-pointing. By carefully selecting orbital elements such that satellites pass through the same sky position at the same time, the system achieves fast handovers using a simple mechanically tracking antenna.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two mechanical antennas are used for MBB handovers, then handover capability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The satellite constellation is pre-configured with specific geometric and timing specifications that guarantee two satellites will be at approximately the same location in the sky during handover. This allows a single antenna to simultaneously track both satellites during the handover period, enabling MBB fashion handovers without requiring two separate antennas.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single mechanically tracking dish antenna is used, then cost and simplicity are improved, but handover capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the orbital parameters of the satellite constellation to specific geometric and timing specifications, the system enables a single mechanically tracking antenna to perform MBB handovers. The satellites are configured to pass through the same sky position at the same time, allowing the simple antenna to maintain continuous communication during handovers.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for designing Non-Geosynchronous Orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations and NGSO satellite constellations thereof are presented. An NGSO satellite constellation may be designed to allow an earth station to perform handover between two satellites of the NGSO satellite constellation while the two satellites appear to be at about a same location in the sky relative to the earth station. In such constellation, an earth station may perform such handover between the two satellites in a Make-Before-Break fashion while the earth station may be configured to use a single, slow-tracking antenna, such as a mechanically tracking dish antenna.