UAV Bistatic Radar Relay for Disaster Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
During disasters, terrestrial communication infrastructures like cell phones and Internet services often become dysfunctional, necessitating real-time communication solutions for both residents and rescue teams in disaster areas, which existing technologies struggle to provide efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a network of UAVs equipped with smart antenna methods for emergency communications, utilizing multiple UAVs to form ad hoc communication networks, including foreground and background communications, and employing wavefront multiplexing and demultiplexing techniques for secure and redundant data delivery, along with ground-based beam forming to establish reliable communication links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terrestrial communication infrastructures are used, then communication services are available under normal conditions, but they become dysfunctional during disasters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces UAVs as intermediary communication platforms that relay signals between disaster areas and external networks. The UAV-based ad hoc network acts as a mediator when terrestrial infrastructure fails, maintaining communication reliability without depending on damaged ground-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into multiple independent UAV nodes forming a distributed ad hoc network. This segmentation allows the system to remain functional even if individual nodes or terrestrial infrastructure fail, improving both reliability and adaptability to disaster conditions.
2Reliability
If multiple UAVs are deployed to form ad hoc communication networks, then communication coverage and reliability improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple UAVs are merged into a coordinated ad hoc network where they share communication resources and work together as a unified system. This combining approach improves reliability through redundancy while managing complexity through standardized protocols and coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The UAV-based communication system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various communication tasks including voice, data, and surveillance. This universality reduces the need for specialized equipment for different functions, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Reliability
If wavefront multiplexing and demultiplexing techniques are employed, then secure and redundant data delivery is achieved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Wavefront multiplexing techniques are applied in advance to encode redundant information into transmitted signals. This preliminary action ensures that backup data paths are established before transmission failures occur, improving reliability while the processing complexity is managed through pre-computed encoding schemes.
4Reliability
If UAVs operate at high altitudes above terrestrial weather, then communication stability improves, but payload weight and power consumption constraints become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts essential communication functions into compact, lightweight payloads that can be carried by UAVs. By taking out only the necessary components for ad hoc networking and signal processing, the system achieves high-altitude stable communication while minimizing payload weight to meet operational constraints.
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
This solution enables reliable, real-time communication networks for both residents and rescue teams, even when terrestrial infrastructure is compromised, by using UAVs to establish ad hoc communication networks and secure data transmission, ensuring continuous communication in disaster scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
A bistatic radar receiver on the mobile airborne platform includes a first antenna system to capture reflected radiofrequency signals originated from a satellite via reflected paths from the coverage area
Implementation Method 2
The remote beam forming network remotely forms receiving beams for the first antenna system of the bistatic radar receiver to capture the reflected radiofrequency signals
Implementation Method 3
The remote radar processing center includes a cross-correlator which receives the reflected radiofrequency signals and the radiation signals as two input signal streams, performs cross-correlations between the two input signal streams, and outputs an output signal stream
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a ground hub and a mobile airborne platform hovering over or close to a coverage area on or near the earth surface. A bistatic radar receiver on the airborne platform includes a first antenna system to capture reflected radiofrequency signals originated from a satellite via reflected paths from the coverage area; and a second antenna system to transmit the reflected radiofrequency signals to the ground hub via a feeder link. At the ground hub, a multibeam antenna system receives the reflected radiofrequency signals and captures radiation signals directly from the satellite via a direct path; and a remote beam forming network remotely forms receiving beams for the first antenna system. A remote radar processing center includes a cross-correlator to receive the reflected radiofrequency signals and the radiation signals as two input signal streams, perform cross-correlations between the two input signal streams, and output an output signal stream.