UAV Satellite Relay Positioning for Obstructed Vehicle Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locations on Earth, especially mobile devices like vehicles, often experience connectivity disruptions due to being outside terrestrial wireless coverage areas or encountering obstructions such as foliage and natural impediments, which interfere with satellite communications.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as an intermediary to relay communications between a vehicle on Earth and orbiting satellites, with onboard controllers to instruct the UAV's aerial positioning and antenna orientation, ensuring continuous connectivity by establishing a terrestrial connection between the vehicle and UAV and an extraterrestrial connection between the UAV and satellite.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mobile device moves at high speed through terrestrial wireless coverage areas, then the device can access terrestrial networks when available, but the device experiences frequent connectivity disruptions due to moving in and out of coverage areas and encountering obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UAV as an intermediary relay node between the vehicle and satellites. The UAV maintains continuous communication with both the moving vehicle and overhead satellites, acting as a mobile base station that follows the vehicle's movement. This intermediary solution resolves the contradiction by providing stable connectivity regardless of the vehicle's speed or position relative to terrestrial networks and satellites.
2Reliability
If the vehicle remains stationary to maintain satellite connectivity, then obstructions from foliage and natural impediments are minimized, but the vehicle loses mobility and coverage area access
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV serves as a mobile intermediary that can position itself optimally between the vehicle and satellites, compensating for obstructions caused by the vehicle's stationary position or movement. The UAV's aerial position allows it to maintain line-of-sight with satellites while the vehicle moves freely, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable satellite communication and preserving vehicle mobility.
3Ease of operation
If terrestrial wireless networks are used for connectivity, then coverage area is limited to network infrastructure locations, but device complexity and energy consumption are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV acts as a mobile terrestrial base station that extends wireless coverage to areas without fixed network infrastructure. By deploying a UAV as an intermediary relay, the system provides satellite internet access to remote locations while maintaining device simplicity, as the vehicle only needs standard communication equipment to communicate with the UAV.
4Device complexity
If direct satellite communication is established from the vehicle, then device complexity is minimized, but connectivity is disrupted by obstructions and limited coverage area
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV serves as an intermediary relay that enhances satellite communication coverage without significantly increasing vehicle complexity. The vehicle communicates with the UAV using standard terrestrial communication protocols, and the UAV handles the satellite communication interface, thus extending coverage while keeping the vehicle's communication system relatively simple.
5Area of stationary object
If the UAV adjusts its position and antenna orientation to maintain line-of-sight with the satellite, then coverage area is extended and obstructions are overcome, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The UAV employs dynamic positioning and antenna orientation adjustment to maintain optimal line-of-sight with satellites while the vehicle moves. The system continuously updates the UAV's position and antenna pointing direction based on real-time vehicle location and satellite geometry, enabling extended coverage area while managing system complexity through adaptive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from GPS location data, satellite ephemeris information, and communication signal quality to continuously adjust the UAV's position and antenna orientation. This closed-loop control maintains optimal line-of-sight connection with satellites while adapting to vehicle movement, thereby extending coverage area with manageable complexity through intelligent feedback-based adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for enhanced satellite communication coverage via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system may include a satellite configured for orbiting Earth, a vehicle configured for ground transportation on Earth, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operable for relaying communication signals between the vehicle and the satellite. The system may be configured for transmitting control instructions to the UAV for controlling aerial positioning of the UAV relative to the vehicle and the satellite. The control instructions may specifying a roll, a pitch, and a yaw for orientating the UAV to point towards the satellite.