AFSCN Upgrade Based on Smart Antenna and Cognitive Satellite Radio

ABSTRACT: This proposal presents an Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) upgrade scheme using smart antenna and cognitive satellite radio techniques. On the remote tracking station (RTS) side, switched beam smart antenna, distributed beam forming technique, multiple access technique based on FDMA and/or CDMA are applied to obtain multiple satellites reception objective. On the satellite side, smart antenna is applied to the RF interference (RFI) and speed up the antenna mainlobe turning for shortening the lengthy TT&C scheduling; cognitive radio sensing is used on satellite to monitor the RFI and extract the RFI pattern for minimizing RFI in TT&C scheduling. In addition, GPS based ranging technique is applied for satellite localization to alleviate the RTSs satellite tracking work load. We modeled the end to end uplink communication from RTS transmitter to satellite receiver for uplink power and link budget calculation. The RF interferences coming from undesired RTS and 3G/4G personal communication system are modeled separately and then combined for RFI minimization in the TT&C scheduling process. We also proposed long term solutions using phase array antenna, cognitive satellite radio and real time TT&C scheduling techniques. BENEFIT: The proposed techniques (1) to (5) can be directly used for AFSCN TT&C multiple satellites reception and satellite RFI minimization in congested, contested radio spectrum conditions; (6) can be used for any satellite localization/ranging; and, (7) can be used for AFSCN multiple satellites reception in wide angle range with smart antennas on satellites in the future when the PAA cost is lower than the SATOP cost reduction using PAA. The technique (2) can also be applied in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and RF environment monitoring missions to effectively detect and localize ground radar/satellite-communication-station/jammers for early RF threat warning and indications, such as transition into existing Wideband Global Spectrum Monitoring System (WGSMS) program. It can also be applied on CubeSat or small UAV. When applied on CubeSat, it can be directly used for monitoring the region with A2AD capability; when applied on UAV, it can be used for battlefield monitoring. We already have close connections with DoD and industry communities. The market for military is quite large and IFT has successfully transitioned research prototype for inclusion in DoD contractor research simulations. We also recognize commercial application of this project with the concepts being developed. The proposed system can be directly used for commercial satellite TT&C, and the technique (2) can be applied on small UAS by Department of Homeland Security and US Coast Guard for monitoring county border, or polices for fast response to disaster.