Steerable Antenna Network Switching for Aerial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software solutions for optimizing aerial vehicle flight paths in joint aerial-layer networks (JALNs) fail to dynamically adjust network connectivity in response to changing conditions, leading to suboptimal connectivity and increased costs due to focus on revising flight paths without considering network changes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication travel plan generation system that equips aerial vehicles with steerable antennas and a mission control server to continuously monitor network conditions, allowing dynamic connection and disconnection from different networks to optimize connectivity by periodically redirecting traffic to improve link utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional software solutions focus on revising flight paths to optimize connectivity, then connectivity optimization is achieved, but network adaptability deteriorates as the system cannot dynamically switch between different networks
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different communication networks (SATCOM, terrestrial, mesh) based on real-time conditions. The mission planner continuously evaluates network availability, vehicle position, and mission requirements to adaptively select the optimal network, transforming the static flight path approach into a dynamic network selection process that resolves the contradiction between connectivity optimization and network adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of network selection by evaluating multiple networks simultaneously and switching between them based on changing conditions. Instead of fixing the vehicle to one network or requiring flight path revisions, the system modifies the network parameter dynamically, allowing the same flight path to maintain optimal connectivity through network switching rather than position changes
2Reliability
If the aerial vehicle changes its flight path to optimize connectivity, then connectivity is improved, but time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates virtual copies of multiple communication networks (SATCOM, terrestrial, mesh) and evaluates them simultaneously in the mission planner. Instead of physically moving the vehicle to optimize connectivity, the system virtually assesses all available networks and selects the optimal one, maintaining connectivity without time-consuming flight path changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic network selection that responds to changing conditions in real-time. The mission planner continuously monitors network availability, vehicle position, and mission requirements, allowing the system to adapt connectivity optimization without requiring the vehicle to change its flight path, thereby eliminating time loss while maintaining improved connectivity
3Productivity
If conventional software solutions only focus on flight path revision, then flight optimization is achieved, but network condition responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mission planner serves multiple functions: it generates flight paths, selects communication networks, and optimizes connectivity simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain flight optimization while adding network condition responsiveness, as the same planning software now handles both flight and communication optimization without sacrificing either capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the mission planner continuously monitors network conditions, vehicle position, and mission requirements. This feedback loop enables the system to respond to changing network conditions in real-time, adjusting network selection based on current state information while maintaining optimized flight paths, thus achieving both flight optimization and network responsiveness
Data Source
AI summary
A communication optimization system/method for mobile networks uses a server that generates waypoints based on a first communication network within a route to be travelled by an aerial vehicle, the aerial vehicle comprising a communication hub configured to communicate with at least one communication node, a communication hub controller configured control movement of a steerable antenna, and an aerial vehicle controller configured control movement of the aerial vehicle. The server then transmits the waypoints to the aerial vehicle controller; periodically monitors networks not connected to the communication hub; when a second communication network not connected to the communication hub satisfies a threshold, transmits causes the communication controller to steer the steerable antenna in a direction of the second communication network, further causing the communication hub to communicate and connect with the second communication network.