UAS Dual Subscription for Command and Control Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunications networks face challenges in ensuring robust reliability and flexible redundancy of critical communication links for uncrewed aerial systems, particularly for command and control communications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual subscription functionality in uncrewed aerial systems, allowing them to connect simultaneously via two mobile communication networks with different network identifiers, using an uncrewed aerial system application enabler server to manage connectivity and configure clients for command and control purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a uncrewed aerial system connects to a single mobile communication network, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability and service continuity of command and control communications deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication connectivity by dividing it into two separate mobile communication networks with different network identifiers. This segmentation allows the uncrewed aerial system to distribute communication traffic across multiple networks, thereby improving reliability without requiring complete system redundancy. Each network segment can operate independently, ensuring service continuity if one network fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The uncrewed aerial system is configured with multi-functionality by enabling it to operate with multiple mobile communication networks simultaneously. The system can selectively use either network for command and control communications based on availability and quality, making the communication system universal rather than network-specific. This multi-functionality approach improves reliability while managing complexity through standardized protocols.
2Reliability
If a uncrewed aerial system uses dual subscription functionality with two mobile communication networks, then the reliability and service continuity improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring dual subscription functionality with two mobile communication networks before actual operation. The uncrewed aerial system is prepared with multiple network identifiers and authentication credentials in advance, allowing it to quickly switch between networks or maintain simultaneous connections without requiring complex real-time decision-making. This pre-preparation reduces operational complexity while ensuring service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer in the form of a uncrewed aerial system application enabler server that mediates between the application layer and multiple mobile communication networks. This intermediary handles the complexity of managing dual subscriptions, network selection, and connectivity configuration, thereby improving service continuity while shielding the core system from excessive complexity. The intermediary abstracts the multi-network management into standardized interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for using an uncrewed aerial system with both a first and a second mobile communication network having, or using, different network identifiers in relation to or in the framework of application layer support for uncrewed aerial systems, wherein the uncrewed aerial system is enabled to use connectivity provided by the first and, alternatively, provided by the second mobile communication network via an uncrewed aerial system application enabler server, UAE server, to an uncrewed aerial system application specific server, and wherein the uncrewed aerial system corresponds to, or realizes, -- an uncrewed aerial system application specific client on an uncrewed aerial system application specific layer, and -- an uncrewed aerial system application enabler client on an uncrewed aerial system application enabler layer, wherein the uncrewed aerial system has, using a dual subscription functionality, both a native subscription to the first mobile communication network and to the second mobile communication network, wherein, in order to realize, for command and control purposes, a certain quality-of-service level and/or service continuity, the method comprises the following steps: -- in a first step, the uncrewed aerial system application enabler server is connected to both the first and the second mobile communication network, and the uncrewed aerial system application specific server transmits a message to the uncrewed aerial system application enabler server, UAE server, thereby requesting a command and control connectivity configuration request regarding the uncrewed aerial system, -- in a second step, the uncrewed aerial system application enabler server transmits, to the uncrewed aerial system application specific server, a command and control operation mode management response regarding the uncrewed aerial system and configures the uncrewed aerial system application enabler client and the uncrewed aerial system application specific client of the uncrewed aerial system accordingly.