Satellite Control Systems for Drone Operations

One-station dual-satellite communication system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using two satellites in the same orbit to improve UAV satellite connectivity. It allows UAVs to simultaneously use a traditional wide-beam satellite system and a multi-spot beam high-throughput satellite system. This provides real-time transmission of UAV commands, telemetry, and mission data. The wide-beam satellite ensures reliability while the high-throughput satellite provides higher bandwidth. It allows dynamic resource allocation based on requirements, like critical commands using wide-beam and large data using high-throughput.

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Communication relay system for large and medium unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that enables them to relay voice, data, and video between ground stations and other UAVs beyond visual range. The system involves loading a 4G broadband base station on the UAV to create a local wireless network. It also has an onboard video encoder, switches, and terminals for connecting to line-of-sight terminals and satellite terminals. This allows the UAV to relay signals between ground stations and other UAVs using its own base station instead of relying on ground stations. The UAV can also send reconnaissance video back to ground stations. The encoder compresses video to save bandwidth.

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Using drones and balloons as part of a communications system with satellites to provide global coverage. The drones and balloons are non-orbiting aerial nodes that can be used in local systems or in combination with satellites for wider area communications. They are deployed at altitudes of at least 10 miles to avoid interfering with commercial aviation. The drones can be lighter-than-air or heavier-than-air, and can be lift-assisted. This allows using drones closer to the ground to increase signal strength. The drones can transition to higher altitude satellite nodes for longer distance routes. The system uses multiple layers of aerial nodes at different altitudes for routing data and calls over long distances.

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Enabling 5G capabilities over satellite backhaul networks to provide dynamic, on-demand connectivity via satellite to advanced communication networks like 5G. The technique involves using 5G radio equipment on mobile assets, aerial vehicles, etc. that can communicate with devices via satellite using 5G protocols. Satellite gateways route the 5G traffic over the satellite backhaul to the core network. This allows extending 5G coverage to remote areas using satellite backhaul as an alternative to terrestrial fiber. The 5G radios enable seamless handover between terrestrial and satellite networks. The satellite gateways advertise routing paths to the core network.

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Communication system for drones that allows long-range, low-cost, and lightweight communication for cargo drones operating at high altitudes and long distances. The system uses low-orbit satellites for relaying instead of high-orbit satellites. The drone communicates directly with a gateway on the ground, which relays data to low-orbit satellites. The drone also communicates with the satellites directly. This allows using an omnidirectional antenna and reduced power since the satellites are closer. The satellites have wider bandwidth due to Doppler shift. It reduces drone equipment size, cost, and weight compared to high-orbit satellites. The ground station and satellites can provide telemetry and remote control, while images are only downloaded during landing.

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An L-band UAV remote communication circuit based on a star network platform to enable reliable and flexible long-range UAV communication using satellites. The circuit has components like power supply, baseband, main control, RF switch, and RF transceiver. The main control module connects to the UAV's flight control wireless and processes signals. It modulates/demodulates data using the baseband. The RF switch routes this to the low-orbit satellite. The satellite relays to a ground station. The RF switch also connects the RF transceiver for UAV-to-satellite links. This allows the UAV to communicate with the ground station using the satellite as a relay. The RF switch controls both connections.

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An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system for beyond-view-range image transmission using a star network architecture. The system involves using a ground station, satellite communications, and image compression to extend UAV video range. The UAV captures video, which is compressed and modulated by a chip. It's then transmitted via satellite to the ground station where it's demodulated and converted back to digital. The compressed video is then sent to the UAV. This allows UAVs to transmit video over long distances using satellites instead of line-of-sight links.

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Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication system that enables long-range, broadband communication between a UAV and ground control without satellites. The system uses ground broadband networks and terrestrial repeater stations instead of satellites. The UAV has omnidirectional and directional antennas. It broadcasts its position to find the nearest repeater. The repeater aims its directional antenna and establishes link. UAVs can fly long distances over land using ground broadband. This reduces cost vs satellite and expands UAV range and applications.

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Communication circuit for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that uses a star network platform of low-orbit satellites to improve reliability, accuracy, flexibility, and range compared to line-of-sight control. The circuit has separate power, baseband, control, and RF components. The baseband converts UAV data between digital and RF formats. The control sends the RF data to nearby satellites. Satellites relay it to ground stations. Stations send back data via satellites. This star network reduces delays, improves timeliness, and covers complex terrain better than line-of-sight links.

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Enabling reliable remote communication with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over wide areas using satellite networks. The UAVs carry satellite communication equipment like antennas, modems, and transceivers to connect directly to satellites. This allows them to communicate with ground stations and control centers when terrestrial networks are unavailable. The UAVs also have onboard servers to process and return data. By integrating satellite communications into UAVs, it provides wider coverage, eliminates range limitations, and enables remote operation of UAVs in complex areas with poor terrestrial networks.

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Ad hoc network communication method for unmanned aerial vehicles in long range scenarios where traditional wireless systems have poor performance. The method uses regenerative relay stations to extend communication range. Data is modulated and transmitted by one UAV, relayed through regenerative stations, and demodulated at the receiving UAV. This involves modulation, microwave transmission, and demodulation at each terminal and relay station.

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A remote control system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that uses satellite communication to enable long-range, reliable control. The system has a module chip that receives commands from a ground station and converts them into binary format. It then sends the converted commands over satellite to a UAV. The UAV receives the commands via satellite and executes them. This allows UAVs to be controlled over long distances using satellite networks instead of line-of-sight radios.

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A control plane and data plane separated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) satellite communication system to improve UAV beyond-the-horizon (BTH) communication capability and enable scalable networking. The system separates UAV control plane and data plane functions over separate satellite links. The control plane handles UAV system management and signaling, while the data plane transmits user data. This isolates UAV control from data, improves BTH anti-interference, allows higher power covert control, and enables interoperability between UAVs and ground networks.

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Satellite-fusion unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a 4G communication base station for air-to-ground networking that provides high-bandwidth, high-coverage communication capability to multiple ground user terminals. The UAV carries the 4G base station, line-of-sight terminal, and Ka satellite terminal. It connects to the ground via the Ka satellite. This allows the UAV to relay 4G signals beyond line-of-sight using the satellite, providing wider coverage and access to more ground terminals.

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A wide-area mobile communication system that integrates satellite and terrestrial networks for efficient and unified mobile communication. The system uses MF-TDMA broadband satellite networking to connect mobile user nodes over long distances. Short-distance access networks connect mobile nodes to the satellite backbone. Management nodes integrate planning, monitoring, and routing for the entire network. The system enables seamless handoff between satellite and terrestrial networks, converts bearer systems, and dynamically allocates satellite resources. It provides unified bearer switching, comprehensive network planning, integrated management, and spectrum monitoring across satellite and terrestrial networks.

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Simultaneous satellite communication system for UAVs that uses two types of satellites in the same orbit to improve reliability, bandwidth, and flexibility compared to a single satellite system. The UAV has dual satellite communication equipment that can switch between a wide beam satellite and a multi-spot beam high throughput satellite. This allows the UAV to have redundant links, higher capacity links, and dynamic bandwidth adaptation as it moves between satellite beams.

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An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data link communication system for beyond-the-horizon cluster operations that combines satellite and terrestrial networking to enable large-scale, high-bandwidth UAV swarming. The system uses satellite links for long range coverage and terrestrial networking for local area communications. UAVs act as mobile relays between the satellite and ground. The satellite links provide beyond visual range connectivity while the terrestrial links enable close range swarming. The system uses techniques like combined hardware design, heterogeneous networking, data encryption, efficient coding, and multi-channel backup to meet the requirements of large range, high bandwidth, and flexibility for UAV swarming beyond visual range.

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A satellite communication system for emergency unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide rapid, reliable, and whole-network communication coverage during disasters when terrestrial networks are disrupted. The system involves using large-endurance UAVs as mobile base stations that can be quickly deployed to disaster areas. The UAVs carry base station equipment, airborne communication gear, and task load equipment like cameras and radar. They connect via satellite links to provide network access and coverage. The UAVs can also fuse terrestrial and satellite links. The UAVs can access, read, and isolate virtual channels from base stations and UAV tasks using protocols like CCSDS-AOS. This allows dynamic satellite resource allocation, IP over CCSDS for space networking, and fusion with manned spacecraft. The UAVs provide all-weather, timely, efficient, and stable emergency communication when terrestrial

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Drone-based radio communication system using fiber optics to connect a ground station to an aerial drone. The system uses radio-over-fiber (RoF) technology to transmit radio signals over a fiber optic tether between the drone and base station. This allows bidirectional radio communication between the drone's onboard transceiver and ground station via the fiber tether. The RoF system enables high bandwidth communication over the tether without the losses and size penalties of traditional cable connections. The drone's radio is connected to the fiber using wave division multiplexers to transmit and receive RF signals over the optical fiber.

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Airborne networking system using a satellite-enabled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying a 5G base station to provide high-speed communication in remote areas. The UAV has a line-of-sight link terminal, a Ka-band satellite terminal, and a 5G base station. The line-of-sight link terminal transmits data within range and connects to the Ka terminal. The Ka terminal uses a low-orbit satellite to relay data to a ground station. This allows the UAV to provide extended range 5G coverage using satellite backup.

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