BROADBAND ACCESS SYSTEM VIA DRONE/UAV PLATFORMS

摘要

The present disclosure describes the system and methods for providing broadband internet access to homes and enterprises using a network of aerial platforms such as drones/UAVs/balloons. The drone communication system is composed of an antenna sub-system, a radio sub-system and a data switching sub-system. Drones form and point beams toward ground terminals in different areas in a space division multiple access scheme. Ground terminals are composed of an antenna sub-system and a radio sub-system. Ground terminals search for the drone from which they receive the strongest signals. Drone and ground terminals comprise of methods and systems to calibrate receive and transmit antenna elements. Drone radio sub-system keeps track of the drone's position and orientation changes and adjust drone's antenna beam accordingly to point to the same location on the ground as the drone moves. Depending on the changes in drone's position and orientation, the drone radio sub-system may switch the antenna aperture and/or the antenna fixture that is used to form a beam toward a specific ground terminal. Drones communicate with the terminals using a space and time division multiple access scheme.

主权项

1. A system for broadband wireless access communication between ground terminals and a network of one or more aerial platforms, comprising:
at least one antenna fixture on each aerial platform capable of generating at least one beam toward the ground, forming beams toward terminals located in a wide area on the ground; at least one radio sub-system on each aerial platforms with a receiver for demodulating and decoding signals received from the ground terminals, a transmitter for modulating data and transmitting the modulated signals to ground terminals through at least one aerial platform antenna, sending at least one pilot signal to ground terminals, and controlling and configuring the aerial platform antenna to form beams in specific directions; at least one aerial platform switching sub-system with capability to switch data received at the aerial platform from one set of terminals on the ground to another set of terminals; an antenna sub-system at the ground terminal with capability to point beams toward specific aerial platforms; and a radio sub-system at the ground terminal with a receiver for demodulating and decoding signals received from aerial platforms, a transmitter for modulating ground terminal data and transmitting the signals to aerial platforms through the ground terminal antenna, sending at least one pilot signal to aerial platforms, and controlling and configuring the ground terminal antenna to from its beam toward aerial platforms.