Pseudo-Geosynchronous Satellite Cluster for Continuous Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of deploying and maintaining singular satellites for various space-based operations, especially for organizations that do not require continuous operations or the full range of sensors, lead to underutilization of satellite technology.
Innovation Solution
A satellite system comprising a cluster of CubeSat devices in low-earth orbit configured to establish pseudo-geosynchronous configurations, enabling efficient communication and data sharing through virtual nodes and peer-to-peer communication networks, allowing for specialized roles and enhanced redundancy and fault-tolerance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single satellite is deployed to provide space-based operations, then the satellite can perform continuous operations with full sensors, but the cost and complexity of deployment and maintenance becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single satellite system into multiple smaller CubeSat devices operating in a constellation. Each CubeSat is simpler and cheaper to deploy, but collectively they provide the continuous operation capability through coordinated swarming behavior and task distribution across multiple nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple individual CubeSats are merged into a unified pseudo-geosynchronous system through peer-to-peer communication networks and coordinated control. The combined system achieves continuous coverage and operational reliability that individual satellites cannot provide alone, while maintaining lower individual unit complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single satellite is deployed with full sensors and capabilities, then comprehensive space-based operations can be performed, but the cost becomes prohibitively high for organizations that do not require full capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
Different CubeSats in the constellation are equipped with different sensor suites and capabilities tailored to specific mission requirements. Each node has localized, specialized equipment rather than every satellite carrying all possible sensors, reducing individual unit cost while maintaining overall system versatility through task distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The CubeSat constellation is designed with universal communication protocols and peer-to-peer networking that enable any node to perform multiple functions. The system can dynamically assign different operational roles to different satellites based on mission needs, providing adaptability without requiring each satellite to have all capabilities built-in.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional satellite deployment is used, then continuous operations can be maintained, but organizations that do not require continuous operations pay excessive costs
Solution Approach 1:
The CubeSat constellation enables dynamic operation modes where satellites can be activated or deactivated based on mission requirements. Organizations can deploy the full constellation for continuous operation when needed, or activate only subset of nodes for intermittent operations, dynamically adjusting the operational duration and cost to match actual needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite platform. In one example, a satellite system includes satellite devices in low-earth orbit (LEO) configured to establish a pseudo-geosynchronous configuration corresponding to a ground communication system by at least transferring instructions for traffic routing from outgoing satellite devices leaving the pseudo-geosynchronous window for receipt by target satellite devices entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window. During passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, the target satellite devices are each configured to route communications received in the target satellite devices from ones of the satellite devices through the ground communication system in accordance with the instructions for traffic routing.