Relay Antenna Orientation for Mobile Object Signal Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional communications networks face challenges in maintaining optimal signal transmission with mobile objects like UAVs due to antenna down-tilt and varying positions, leading to increased path loss, interference, and reduced energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Employing a relay system with a fixed and a mechanically movable antenna to orient towards mobile objects, controlled by a relay control system, which includes signaling for capability, control, and status data to enhance signal relay efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed antenna is used at the base station, then the device complexity is reduced, but the signal quality deteriorates due to antenna down-tilt and increased path loss with mobile objects
Solution Approach 1:
A relay system with a movable second antenna is introduced as an intermediary between the base station's fixed first antenna and the mobile object. The relay receives signals from the fixed antenna and retransmits them via the movable antenna that can be dynamically oriented towards the mobile object, thereby maintaining signal quality without requiring the base station antenna to be complex or movable
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is segmented into two separate functional components: a fixed first antenna at the base station for simplified infrastructure, and a movable second antenna at the relay system for adaptive signal transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the fixed antenna reduces complexity while the movable antenna maintains signal quality
2Area of stationary object
If the base station antenna is oriented for ground coverage, then coverage area is maximized, but path loss increases when communicating with mobile objects at varying positions
Solution Approach 1:
The relay system introduces dynamic orientation capability through the movable second antenna that can adjust its pointing direction towards mobile objects. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the fixed base station antenna's down-tilt configuration, maintaining optimal signal strength regardless of the mobile object's position while the base station maintains its ground-optimized coverage orientation
3Productivity
If a movable antenna is added to the relay system, then signal relay efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable second antenna at the relay acts as an intermediary that provides dynamic beam steering capability. By placing this complexity at the relay rather than the base station, the system achieves improved signal relay efficiency through adaptive orientation while keeping the base station infrastructure simple and fixed
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a means for receiving selection of a relay system associated with a base station (10) of a communications network, the relay system comprising a first antenna (15) for substantially fixed orientation towards an antenna (12) of the base station and a second antenna (16) which is mechanically movable about one or more axes responsive to the control data to provide one of a range of possible orientations. The apparatus may also comprise a means for sending control data to the selected relay system for controlling the orientation of the second antenna, the control data comprising at least positioning instructions received from a node of the communications network for causing positioning of the second antenna to a particular orientation associated with a mobile target object (19).