Mega Satellite Constellation System Optimization From Network Control Structure Perspective
Abstract : The network control plays a vital role in the mega satellite constellation (MSC) to coordinate massive network nodes to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of operations and services for future space wireless communications networks. One of the critical issues in satellite network control is how to design an optimal network control structure (ONCS) by configuring the least number of controllers to achieve efficient control interaction within a limited number of hops. Considering the wide coverage, rising capacity, and no geographical constraints of space platforms, this paper contributes to designing the ONCS by constructing an optimal space control network (SCN) to improve the temporal effectiveness of network control. Specifically, we formulate the optimal SCN construction problem from the perspective of satellite coverage factors, and apply geometric topology analysis to derive both the conditions for constructing the optimal SCN and the formulaic conclusions for SCN and MSC configurations (i.e., scale and structure). From numerical results, we investigate the tradeoff between network scale, the number of controllers, and control delays in several satellite network control scenarios, to provide guidelines for the MSC control. We also design the optimal SCN for an existing MSC system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed ONCS.
? There are several limitations exist in the introduced framework. The Constellation Coverage Computation Module only considers perturbation and ignores others such as radiation, third body, and atmospheric drag perturbations.
? Two comparisons are performed for the optimization results: a comparison with a global coverage constellation and a comparison with an all-in-single-stage constellation.
? The computational scalability of this model depends on two major factors the number of areas of interest and the number of stages. The number of scenarios grows as the factorial of the number of regions.
? The current assumption of three uncertain areas of interest, there exist total six scenarios possible as depicted.
? This problem is addressed in, where the need for an increased accuracy in orbit determination is pushed forward as a means to reduce false alarms and implement automatic orbital corrections.
? Alternative solutions to the debris problem include active removal and space-based surveillance networks.
? It highlights also the tools most often proposed in the analyzed works to overcome constellation management issues, such as applications of machine learning/artificial intelligence and resource/infrastructure sharing.
? Among the issues to be faced in the “constellation race” the space traffic management is probably the most critical, yet not directly faced.
• The proposed multi-stage satellite constellation enables the constellation designer to react flexibly and efficiently to the uncertain future expansion of the areas of interest.
• Another relevant concept was proposed by Paek regarding the reconfigurable satellite constellation between the global and local modes to consider different areas of interest for Earth observation.
• The framework proposed in this paper is applied to the particular case of a two-stage problem with uncertainties lying in the second stage area of interest.
• The purpose of the constellation is telecommunications; therefore, a maximum latency is set according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendation for the mouth-to-ear delay for high-quality speech.
? At the same time, constellation management shall be enhanced to make an efficient use the new infrastructure.
? Other efficient deployment strategies are compared in such as J2 driven deployment and carrier-vehicle deployment.
? A survey of mobile satellite systems endorsing IP-based communication, discouraging however communication satellites other than GEO, mainly for cost efficiency.
? Using this approach, the temporarily unused spectrum could be reallocated for a more efficient use.
? The level of maturity reached by these three areas is, however, not homogeneous: communication is probably the most matured, where relevant work is being done concerning infrastructure integration and protocol efficiency.
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