sUAS RF Repeater with Beamforming for Relocatable Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for highly secure, high data rate, and easily relocatable wireless communication repeaters that can establish and maintain extended range point-to-point links, particularly in inaccessible or challenging locations, such as those required for military, surveillance, and disaster response scenarios, while meeting IEEE quality of service standards and having a small footprint, low power consumption, and high transmit output power.
Innovation Solution
The use of a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) mounted with a radio frequency repeater system that integrates a planar active array transmitter and receiver, employing spatial power combining and beam forming, with re-generating and re-configuring capabilities, and a 3D steering mechanism, to provide robust and secure communication links across various frequency bands, including V, E, and W-bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional repeater systems are used to provide high data rate wireless communication links, then communication reliability is improved, but device size, weight, and power consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater system is divided into separate transmit and receive modules, each with dedicated antenna arrays and signal processing components. This segmentation allows for optimized miniaturization of individual modules while maintaining overall system performance and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple antenna elements into integrated array structures with shared signal processing resources. This merging reduces the overall device size and weight while maintaining communication reliability through spatial diversity and beamforming capabilities
2Length of stationary object
If conventional repeater systems are deployed to extend communication range, then link distance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater system employs periodic signal transmission and reception cycles with duty cycling, allowing the device to extend communication range through sustained operation while reducing average power consumption by alternating between active and low-power states
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission power levels, antenna beam directions, and signal processing parameters based on channel conditions and distance requirements, optimizing the balance between communication range extension and power consumption
3Reliability
If traditional repeater systems are used for secure military and surveillance communication, then communication security is improved, but setup and relocation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater system is designed with dynamic reconfigurable antenna arrays and programmable signal processing components that can be rapidly adjusted during relocation, enabling fast deployment while maintaining secure communication through adaptive beamforming and encryption parameter changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates universal interfaces and standardized mounting configurations that enable rapid deployment across different platforms and locations, reducing setup time while maintaining communication security through consistent cryptographic implementation
4Length of stationary object
If high power transmit output is used to maintain long-range links, then communication distance is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from isotropic radiation patterns to directional beamforming in the spatial dimension, concentrating transmit power along specific paths to extend communication distance without requiring proportional increases in total power output or device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical power amplification systems with electronically controlled phased array signal processing, achieving long-range communication through constructive interference and beamforming rather than brute-force power increase, thereby reducing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for relocatable repeaters for wireless communication links to locations that may present accessibility problems using, for example, small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). An sUAS implemented as an easy-to-operate, small vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft with hovering capability for holding station position may provide an extended range, highly secure, high data rate, repeater system for extending the range of point-to-point wireless communication links (also referred to as “crosslinks”) in which repeater locations are easily relocatable with very fast set-up and relocating times. A repeater system using beam forming and power combining techniques enables a very high gain antenna array with very narrow beam width and superb pointing accuracy. The aircraft includes a control system enabling three-dimensional pointing and sustaining directivity of the beam independently of flight path of the aircraft.