Integrating small satellite communication in an autonomous vehicle network: A case for oceanography

Small satellites and autonomous vehicles have greatly evolved in the last few decades. Hundreds of small satellites have been launched with increasing functionalities, in the last few years. Likewise, numerous autonomous vehicles have been built, with decreasing costs and form-factor payloads. Here...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta astronautica 2018-04, Vol.145, p.229-237
Main Authors: Guerra, André G.C., Ferreira, António Sérgio, Costa, Maria, Nodar-López, Diego, Aguado Agelet, Fernando
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autonomous vehicles
Construction costs
Field trials
Maritime operations
Oceanography
Payloads
Physical oceanography
Remote sensing
Satellite communication
Satellite communications
Satellites
Small satellites
Software radio
Spacecraft
System of systems
Unmanned aerial vehicles
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Summary:Small satellites and autonomous vehicles have greatly evolved in the last few decades. Hundreds of small satellites have been launched with increasing functionalities, in the last few years. Likewise, numerous autonomous vehicles have been built, with decreasing costs and form-factor payloads. Here we focus on combining these two multifaceted assets in an incremental way, with an ultimate goal of alleviating the logistical expenses in remote oceanographic operations. The first goal is to create a highly reliable and constantly available communication link for a network of autonomous vehicles, taking advantage of the small satellite lower cost, with respect to conventional spacecraft, and its higher flexibility. We have developed a test platform as a proving ground for this network, by integrating a satellite software defined radio on an unmanned air vehicle, creating a system of systems, and several tests have been run successfully, over land. As soon as the satellite is fully operational, we will start to move towards a cooperative network of autonomous vehicles and small satellites, with application in maritime operations, both in-situ and remote sensing. •Deployment of multi-heterogeneous autonomous vehicles in the ocean is a new reality.•Satellite communication is essential but expensive or limited for small vehicles.•Small satellites can provide a cheaper and tailored option and be an active player.•A test platform with an UAV and a SDR radio was developed and tested successfully.•Combining small satellites and autonomous vehicles, we created a system of systems.
ISSN:0094-5765
1879-2030
DOI:10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.01.022