NGSO Smallsat Payload Muting for Mission-Aware Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reduced size and weight of non-geosynchronous orbit (NGSO) satellites, such as CubeSats, constrain their power systems, limiting their electrical capability to support high-performance data rates and continuous operations, and existing power management approaches are not resource- or mission-aware, leading to inefficient power utilization.
Innovation Solution
Implementing resource- and mission-aware power management systems with smart schedulers that dynamically adjust power usage based on satellite location, traffic demand, and orbital phases, using a combination of static and dynamic techniques to mute payloads and subsystems as needed, ensuring continuous coverage within power constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If satellite size is reduced to launch smaller payloads, then launch cost is reduced, but electrical power capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management that adjusts power allocation in real-time based on orbital position, mission requirements, and resource availability. The system transitions between different power states (full power, partial power, sleep mode) to optimize the balance between limited power supply and mission needs, enabling small satellites to achieve higher effective power utilization without increasing physical power system size
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters dynamically, including power consumption levels, payload activation states, and orbital maneuver timing, to adapt to varying mission requirements. By adjusting these parameters based on real-time conditions, the satellite maximizes power efficiency and extends operational capability within constrained power boundaries
2Productivity
If power consumption is increased to support high-performance data rates, then data communication performance is improved, but operational duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic duty cycling where high-power transmission modes are alternated with lower-power modes. The system transmits at high power during optimal orbital positions and communication windows, then transitions to lower-power states during eclipse periods or when buffer storage is sufficient, thereby extending operational duration while maintaining effective data throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful communication action through intelligent power management that keeps essential subsystems operational at minimal power levels during non-peak periods. By maintaining satellite position, thermal control, and data buffering continuously, the system ensures uninterrupted mission capability while consuming reduced power during non-critical phases
3Reliability
If all payloads are kept active to ensure continuous coverage, then coverage reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the satellite constellation into multiple satellites that can independently manage their power resources. Individual satellites can enter sleep mode or reduce payload activity when other satellites in the constellation provide coverage, thereby maintaining overall system reliability while reducing individual power consumption. The ground controller coordinates these segments to ensure continuous coverage
Solution Approach 2:
Each satellite autonomously monitors its own power state, orbital position, and mission requirements to make real-time decisions about payload activation. The system self-regulates power distribution across subsystems, dynamically prioritizing critical functions and reducing non-essential power consumption to maintain reliability within power constraints
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for automated satellite power management (ASPM) for a satellite communication system having a constellation of non-geosynchronous orbit (NGSO) small satellites (smallsats). The techniques can be resource-and/or mission-aware. Embodiments control power used by the constellation by evaluating subsets of the NGSO smallsats determined to be covering each of a number of grid regions (GRs) segmenting a coverage area at any particular timestep. For each timestep for each subset, the evaluating includes: determining whether any payloads of the subset are mutable payloads for the timestep (i.e., can be shut down to conserve power without violating mission objectives); and communicating with the subset to control power to the payloads, so that all the mutable payloads are muted for the timestep and all other payloads of the plurality of payloads are unmuted for the timestep.