Satellite Cluster Role Specialization for Cost Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and inefficiency of deploying singular, fully-equipped satellites for organizations with limited operational needs lead to underutilization of satellite technology, as most satellites are expensive to create and launch, and may not require continuous operations or extensive sensor capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The development of a satellite platform with specialized roles defined by software and hardware elements, allowing for a cluster of satellite devices to be deployed with general-purpose configurations, enabling multi-layered orbital arrangements for enhanced communications, imaging, redundancy, and fault-tolerance, and utilizing virtual nodes and peer-to-peer communication to share resources and tasks among satellite devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a singular satellite with full sensors and continuous operation capabilities is deployed, then comprehensive operational capabilities are achieved, but deployment cost and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational capabilitiesVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single full-capability satellite into multiple smaller satellite devices, each with specialized roles and limited sensor capabilities. These segmented satellites work together in a cluster to achieve the functionality of a single comprehensive satellite, reducing individual manufacturing and deployment costs while maintaining overall operational versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional satellite cluster where each satellite can perform multiple specialized functions (imaging, communications, navigation, weather monitoring) depending on its specific role assignment. The cluster as a whole provides universal operational capabilities by coordinating the specialized functions of individual satellites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a singular satellite with full sensors is deployed, then complete operational functionality is achieved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to underutilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational functionalityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns different sensor capabilities and operational characteristics to different satellites within the cluster based on their specific roles. Each satellite is optimized for its particular function (e.g., some have imaging sensors, others have communications equipment), creating local quality differentiation that improves overall operational efficiency by matching capabilities to specific tasks rather than having all satellites equipped with all sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements on-demand activation where satellites are activated only when their specific functions are needed for particular operations. This partial action approach allows the cluster to scale operational functionality dynamically, activating only the necessary subset of satellites for each mission, thereby improving operational efficiency by avoiding continuous operation of all satellites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If continuous operation capabilities are provided on a single satellite, then uninterrupted service is achieved, but cost and resource allocation efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic activation and task transfer mechanisms where satellites are activated in sequences or cycles based on operational requirements. When one satellite completes its task or requires maintenance, another satellite in the cluster can take over, providing continuous service through periodic action patterns rather than requiring all satellites to operate continuously simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables dynamic role assignment where satellites can be temporarily deactivated or reassigned to different functions based on current operational needs. This allows the system to recover and reallocate resources efficiently, activating satellites only when needed for specific tasks rather than maintaining continuous operation of all satellites, thereby reducing overall cost while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS10965779B2Role-specialization in spaceborne and airborne computing platforms

Publication Date: 2021.03.30 VECTOR LAUNCH INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for spaceborne and airborne computing platforms. In one example, an airborne computing platform includes a plurality of airborne devices, with one or more of the airborne devices comprising specialized roles defined by at least one among software elements and hardware elements targeted to the specialized roles. Individual ones of the airborne devices are configured to identify tasks to be serviced using one or more of the specialized roles, determine one or more target devices to handle the tasks based at least in part on attributes of the target devices, and transfer at least task instructions for delivery to the target devices for performing the tasks.