Wavelength dimensioning for wavelength-routed WDM satellite network

Internet and broadband applications driven by data traffic demand have become key dri-vers for satellite constellations. The key technology to satisfy the high capacity requirements between satellites is optical satellite networks by means of wavelength division multiplexing inter-satellite links (ISLs) with wavelength routing (WDM-OSN). Due to the limited optical amplifier bandwidth onboard the satellite, it is important to minimize the wavelength requirements to provi-sion requests. However, ISLs should be dynamically established and deleted for each satellite according to its visible satellites. Furthermore, different link assignments will result in different topologies, hence yielding different routings and wavelength assignments. Thus, a perfect match model-based link assignment scheme (LAS-PMM) is proposed to design an appropriate topology such that shorter path could be routed and less wavelengths could be assigned for each ISL along the path. Finally, simulation results show that in comparison to the regular Manhattan street net-work (MSN) topology, wavelength requirements and average end-to-end delay based on the topol-ogy generated by LAS-PMM could be reduced by 24.8%and 12.4%, respectively.     

Electrodeless ultraviolet communications system

The Laser Communications Laboratory (LCL) of the Wright Laboratory Avionics Directorate is heavily involved in designing optical communications systems covering the full optical spectrum to meet our current and future military communications requirements. This paper summarizes the in-house designed and built solar blind ultraviolet communications system used in the LCL to investigate non-line-of-sight data and voice links. It also summarizes some of the previous DoD work accomplished to exploit free space communications via ultraviolet radiation. In addition, safety factors peculiar to ultraviolet radiation in a closed cockpit environment are addressed. An evaluation of the current electrodeless ultraviolet communications system and a synopsis of planned future projects to improve the system are included in the paper     

Bandwidth maximization for satellite laser communication

Free space optical communication between satellites networked together can make possible high speed communication between different places on Earth. The basic free space optical communication network includes at least two satellites. In order to communicate between them, the transmitter satellite must track the beacon of the receiver satellite and point the information optical beam in its direction. The pointing systems for laser satellite communication suffer during tracking from vibration due to electronic noise, background radiation from interstellar objects such as Sun, Moon, Earth, and Stars in the tracking field of view, and mechanical impact from satellite internal and external sources. Due to vibrations the receiver receives less power. This effect limits the system bandwidth for given bit error rate (BER). In this research we derive an algorithm to maximize the communication system bandwidth using the transmitter telescope gain as a free variable based on the vibration statistics model and the system parameters. Our model makes it possible to adapt the bandwidth and transmitter gain to change of vibration amplitude. We also present an example of a practical satellite network which includes a direct detection receiver with an optical amplifier. A bandwidth improvement of three orders of magnitude is achieved in this example for certain conditions, as compared with an unoptimized system     

Traffic class dependent routing in ISL networks

This work addresses traffic class dependent (TCD) routing, using different link-cost functions, in the intersatellite link (ISL) network of a nongeostationary packet-switched satellite communication system. Three different traffic classes are introduced, each with its particular optimisation criteria. Performance analysis of TCD routing, in terms of average packet delay and average data throughput of a particular traffic class, is evaluated for homogeneous and nonhomogeneous traffic scenarios using a specifically developed simulation model of the ISL network.     

空间激光通信现状、发展趋势及关键技术分析

针对目前空间激光通信的背景需求,介绍了国内外星、空、地、海等平台间的空间激光通信研究与试验现状。通过对空间激光通信现状的分析,并结合科研实践,归纳出空间激光通信的高速率、网络化、多用途、一体化、多谱段5个未来发展趋势。在此基础上,从空间激光通信系统的光学结构、通信收发以及环境影响等方面,着重分析了高质量光学系统设计、高精度捕获对准跟踪、大气信道影响补偿、高速率高功率发射、高灵敏度低误码探测、一对多通信网络、平台振动与姿态补偿、器件部件空间适应性8项关键技术,并提出相关技术的解决方法和途径,进而给出须进一步深入研究的方向,展示了空间激光通信良好的应用前景。     

月地及月地以远测控通信与若干关键技术发展趋势

通过研究国内外主要测控通信技术现状与发展动态,梳理出了目前我国在月地及月地以远距离测控通信技术遇到的挑战:面临测量精度尚不能满足科学探测更高的要求,数据传输能力难以满足更高的数据传输速率需求,关键器件自主可控较为薄弱,激光通信高精度快速捕获手段单一,以及星载终端设计与关键技术在轨验证较少等。针对这些问题,提出了对天线组阵、激光测控通信技术、Ka波段及毫米波低温接收机、超导纳米线单光子探测器、深空光学跟瞄系统、窄线宽激光光源的产生技术、光通信调制技术和高功率低噪声放大器的迫切需求,并介绍了国外最新的用于深空测控通信的新概念与前沿技术,即一体化微波/光学混合通信系统与微波光子射频信号稳相传输技术。最后,结合我国现状,讨论了我国测控通信重点发展方向及其关键技术的建议,可供构建月地及月地以远测控通信系统参考。     

Optical fiber wavelength division multiplexing

During flight, aircraft avionics transmit and receive RF signals to/from antennas over coaxial cables. As the density and complexity of onboard avionics increases, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) environment degrades proportionately, leading to decreasing signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and potential safety concerns. The coaxial cables are inherently lossy, limiting the RF signal bandwidth while adding considerable weight. To overcome these limitations, we have investigated a fiber optic communications link for aircraft that utilizes wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to support the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals (including RF) over a single optical fiber. Optical fiber has many advantages over coaxial cable, particularly lower loss, greater bandwidth, and immunity to EMI. In this paper, we demonstrate that WDM can be successfully used to transmit multiple RF signals over a single optical fiber with no appreciable signal degradation. We investigate the transmission of FM and AM analog modulated signals, as well as FSK digital modulated signals, over a fiber optic link (FOL) employing WDM. We present measurements of power loss, delay, SNR, carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR), total harmonic distortion (THD), and bit error rate (BER). Our experimental results indicate that WDM is a fiber optic technology suitable for avionics applications.     

Geostationary tether satellite system and its application tocommunication systems

The geostationary tether satellite system expands the geostationary orbit resource from a one-dimensional arc into a two-dimensional disk. The tethered satellites, each several thousand kilometers apart and aligned along the local vertical, are stabilized at the altitude of the geosynchronous orbital speed. When this system is applied to communications systems, it is estimated that the number of satellites can be increased as much as thirteenfold and the communication capacity can be increased more than seventeenfold, compared with a conventional geostationary satellite orbit system     

星间链路在空间态势感知中的应用研究

通过对星间链路和空间态势感知系统国内外发展现状的分析,指出星间链路在空间信息有效获取、安全传输和实时应用以及保障空间态势感知系统战场生存能力等方面起着重要的作用.针对星间链路在未来空间态势感知系统中的应用需求,提出包含空间通信模型和空间导航模型在内的空间感知体系基本架构,并对该架构下星间链路的设计要求或者特点进行分析,指出星间链路应该具有灵活可变的星间路由策略和联网结构,并能够支持高速可变和安全可靠的星间数据传输.分别从空间网络和卫星节点2个层面提出了系统实现的关键技术,并给出部分关键技术的研究重点和研究方法.上述研究结果可以为星间链路及相关领域的研究工作提供一定的借鉴和帮助.     

Digital air/ground communications for air traffic control

The early 1990's communications for air traffic control (ATC) uses analog single channel radios with conventional amplitude modulation (AM) in the very high frequency (VHF) band. To overcome eventual saturation of the current system, a sample “next generation” ATC communications system has been designed to increase capabilities and provide a graceful transition from the current system. The new ATC communication system must address problems with the modulation format and a balance between increased channel capacity and overall cost. The controller/pilot workloads can be reduced in that the information segments allow for either semi-automatic or fully automatic handoff or frequency change. The principal performance factor is the addition of data, fully integrated with voice, while offering an increase in throughput. The architecture is structured to put priority on the uplink voice messages while offering significant information capacity capabilities for external data sources. When digital data and voice communication systems mature in the ATC environment, a natural evolution to more data traffic and less voice will occur. At that time, a simple restructuring of the channel assignments and priorities could offer increased throughput for connection to ground based data sources such as high capacity routers     

Small satellite access of the Space Network

Small satellites have been perceived as having limited access to NASA's Space Network (SN). The potential for satellite access of the Space Network when the design utilizes a fixed antenna configuration and low-power, coded transmission is analyzed. From the analysis, satellites using this configuration in high-inclination orbits are shown to have a daily data throughput in the 100 to 1000 Mbit range using the multiple access communications service     

Fiber lasers: A future technology for lasers in space

The constraints of operation in space have largely precluded the use of conventional solid-state laser systems for applications including remote sensing, communication relays, and active laser radars. A new technology, fiber lasers, may offer all of the needed features at an affordable price. An appealing aspect of the fiber laser is that it does not need a rigid optical bench. Only the output end of the fiber need be held in rigid reference to the optical tracking system. Design, fabrication, and testing of the laser resonator is generally the most expensive and longest lead part of the effort for conventional solid-state lasers. Advances in fiber optic technology and devices mean that the "fiber laser" need not be a simple device but may be a complex system employing sophisticated technology, such as wavelength selective Bragg reflectors and nonlinear optical frequency shifters. Three companies have obtained single-mode outputs of 35 - 40 watts single mode at 1.03 - 1.1 mu.     

Fiber lasers: a future space technology

The constraints of operation in space have largely precluded the use of conventional solid-state laser systems for applications including remote sensing, communication relays, and active laser radars. A new technology, fiber lasers, may offer all of the needed features at an affordable price. An appealing aspect of the fiber laser is that it does not need a rigid optical bench. Only the output end of the fiber need be held in rigid reference to the optical tracking system. Design, fabrication, and testing of the laser resonator is generally the most expensive and longest lead part of the effort for conventional solid-state lasers. Advances in Fiber Optic technology and devices mean that the "fiber laser" need not be a simple device but may be a complex system employing sophisticated technology such as wavelength selective Bragg reflectors and nonlinear optical frequency shifters. Three companies have recently obtained single-mode outputs of 3540 watts single mode at 1.03-1.1 microns.     

Optical fiber geostationary tether satellite (F-GTS) system design

The geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) is a limited natural resource and its efficient utilization is very important. The geostationary tether satellite (GTS) system has a number of satellites aligned along the local vertical on either side of the nominal geostationary position. The system is synchronized with the Earth's rotation and all the various altitudes are geostationary, Furthermore, optical-fiber geostationary tether satellite (F-GTS) system has been introduced to improve the GTS system, with regard to increment of communication capacity, simplification of interference paths and intersatellite link (ISL) capability. The F-GTS system design is discussed with the purpose of achieving a realistic satellite network. Three frequency bands, i.e., the 14/11, 30/20, and 50/40 GHz bands, are examined for selection of the optimum frequency band. The F-GTS system example for covering the service areas in Japan is discussed with regard to satellite antenna diameter, communication capacities, etc. To apply the F-GTS system to the whole GSO, the diagonal azimuth orbit arrangement method is proposed for low latitude service areas. Moreover, the F-GTS communication capacity and total communication capacity, when the F-GTS systems are applied to the whole GSO, are also examined.     

High-speed avionic optical fiber CDMA networks

With applications of systems integration technology to advanced aircrafts, high-speed and high-capacity optical fiber communication networks should be employed to support airborne broadband communication services. To guarantee real-time multiuser communications over a network, the selection of medium-access schemes is critical for avionics applications. In this paper, we briefly discuss the issues on high-speed multiple-access techniques and their applicability. Then we focus on the design and operation aspects of avionic optical fiber code-division multiple access (CDMA) networks. Some practical considerations on implementing such a CDMA network are also addressed and further improvement is pointed out. It is shown that avionic optical fiber CDMA networks can find a use in real-time avionic sensor data distribution, data exchange, and computer interconnects     

Optimal Utilization of Satellite Communication Systems through Supervisory Control

Users of satellite communication systems being designed are charcterized by diversity. System designers now have the capability of serving thousands of simultaneous users; the users need not all follow the same system parameters. Diversity and characteristics are shown, and an attempt is made to list all the parameters desired by users. Usage of satellite communications systems is projected to serve a maximum of 200 000 users by means of 10 multipurpose satellites. It is shown that a supervisory control system is necessary to achieve optimal utilization of the existing resources.     

Inter-satellite link augmented BeiDou-3 orbit determination for precise point positioning

Precise Point Positioning(PPP) requires precise products, including high-accuracy satellite orbit and clock parameters. It is impossible to obtain an orbit solution that is sufficiently accurate for PPP services with a regional tracking network; therefore, satellite orbits are usually estimated by a global tracking network with a large number of ground stations. However, it is expensive to build globally distributed stations. Fortunately, BeiDou-3 satellites carry an InterSatellite Link(ISL) pay...     

高精度星间基线测量方法探讨

针对小卫星分布式雷达星间基线测量的高精度需求,提出了无线电和激光组合测量方法。无线电测量既能引导激光测量系统,又能实现星间通信。该组合方法精度高,且符合星间测量、通信、时间频率同步一体化设计要求。     

Assessment of the suitability of public mobile data networks for aircraft telemetry and control purposes

This paper provides a review of the state of the art of relevant work on the use of public mobile data networks for aircraft telemetry and control proposes. Moreover, it describes the characterisation for airborne uses of the public mobile data communication systems known broadly as 3G. The motivation for this study was to explore how this mature public communication systems could be used for aviation purposes. An experimental system was fitted to a light aircraft to record communication latency, line speed, RF level, packet loss and cell tower identifier. Communications was established using internet protocols and connection was made to a local server. The aircraft was flown in both remote and populous areas at altitudes up to 8500 ft in a region located in South East Queensland, Australia. Results show that the average airborne RF levels are better than those on the ground by 21% and in the order of −77 dbm. Latencies were in the order of 500 ms (1/2 the latency of Iridium), an average download speed of 0.48 Mb/s, average uplink speed of 0.85 Mb/s, a packet of information loss of 6.5%. The maximum communication range was also observed to be 70 km from a single cell station. The paper also describes possible limitations and utility of using such communications architecture for both manned and unmanned aircraft systems.