Satellite Constellation Tracking for Hypersonic Glide Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surveillance of hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) is challenging due to their intermittent jetting, making it difficult for geostationary early warning satellites to track and predict their flight paths, and existing low earth orbit constellations face complexities in decentralized management and communication.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized flying object surveillance system utilizing a constellation of surveillance and communication satellites that exchange information through a satellite communication network, allowing for decentralized management and prediction of flight paths using infrared detection, launch sensing data, and machine learning to correct and refine path predictions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If geostationary early warning satellites are used for surveillance, then continuous monitoring coverage is improved, but the ability to track and predict HGV flight paths deteriorates due to intermittent jetting and direction changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous monitoring coverageVSAvoidHGV flight path tracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The surveillance system is segmented into multiple LEO satellites working in constellation, each independently detecting and tracking HGVs in their respective fields of view. This segmentation allows better tracking of maneuvering HGVs compared to a single geostationary satellite, as multiple satellites can capture the HGV at different positions and times, enabling more accurate flight path prediction through data fusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If a LEO constellation is used for HGV surveillance, then the ability to track maneuvering flying objects improves, but system complexity increases due to decentralized management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHGV flight path tracking accuracyVSAvoiddecentralized management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the surveillance and communication functions into an integrated system where LEO satellites perform both HGV detection and data transmission. This combination simplifies the overall system architecture by using the same satellite infrastructure for multiple purposes, reducing the need for separate management systems while maintaining decentralized operation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The decentralized management system implements feedback mechanisms where each satellite independently processes detection data, shares information with the constellation, and adjusts its surveillance operations based on received data from other satellites. This feedback loop enables coordinated tracking without requiring complex centralized control, as each satellite autonomously contributes to the overall flight path prediction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If decentralized satellite management is implemented, then system operational autonomy improves, but information exchange efficiency deteriorates due to communication delays in satellite networks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operational autonomyVSAvoidinformation exchange time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing detection data at each satellite before transmission to other constellation members. Satellites prepare and share essential parameters such as detection time, position coordinates, and line-of-sight vectors in advance, enabling receiving satellites to quickly integrate data without extensive processing delays. This preliminary data preparation reduces information exchange time while maintaining decentralized operational autonomy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate and rapid prediction of HGV flight paths by decentralized satellite management, facilitating timely countermeasures despite complexities in integrated satellite operations.

Implementation Method 1

an infrared surveillance device to monitor infrared rays and to detect brightness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS12570410B2Flying object surveillance system, communication satellite, and surveillance satellite

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

A surveillance satellite that has detected a significant high luminance generates launch sensing data indicating a launch time point corresponding to a detection time point, a launch coordinate value expressing a position at which the significant high luminance was detected, and a line-of-sight vector at the detection time point and containing surveillance data at the detection time point and transmits the launch sensing data. A communication satellite that passes through a point in a communication range with respect to the surveillance satellite to transmit the launch sensing data receives the launch sensing data and transmits the launch sensing data to remaining communication satellites via a satellite communication network.