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Airborne On The Move: Situational Awareness with In-Flight Monitoring

Karl Fuchs, VP of Technology iGT

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One Network Multiple Topologies

ISR

GX, Ku, X, Ka, WGS Satellites

TDMA Connection Spread

Spectrum

HAIPE

iGT VSAT Hub (Fully Redundant)

SCPC

DVB-S2

Airborne Maritime Land-Based

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Applications

Airborne COTM • Command and control voice, video and data communications worldwide • Seamless global network

ISR • High-definition video for reconnaissance missions • Persistent surveillance

Emergency Response • Search and Rescue • Bird’s-eye view of emergency situations —as they develop • Obtain and disseminate critical situational awareness

Customs and Border Protection • Wide area airborne surveillance • Sensor monitoring and video backhaul

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Solutions – Single Beam

• Constant connectivity while on the move

• Low speed/high speed loitering and surveillance

• Low data rates for sensor communications

• High data rates for ISR

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Solutions – Multi Satellite • Auto beam switching

• Auto switches and returns between satellites providing constant connections

• Multiple beams leveraging OpenAMIP

• Open interface for airborne antennas that retune satellites on the fly

• Global NMS • Allows management of global

roaming of aircraft between satellites

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Problem: • Antenna integrated with

modems form a complex system • Dynamic • Utilizes feedback loops

• Antennas and modems utilize different protocols • Communicators are not

always trained on the operation of both system elements

Airborne SATCOM – A Complex System

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Airborne SATCOM – A Complex System Solution: • Graphical status of ACU and Modem

• ACU Stats • Modem network connectivity • Satellite longitude • Frequency • Signal to noise ratio • Receive lock • Network lock • Temperature

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• Graphical representation of:

• Aircraft location

• Satellite coverage area showing multiple beams within the footprint

• Coverage options

• Beam transition point

• Countdown to transition

Situational Awareness

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Coverage Options • Choose the constellation or Service Provider

• Cost • Beam Strength • Useable bandwidth

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• Beam Strength • Available Bandwidth • Cost

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Why is in-flight monitoring important? • A beam switch can cause a temporary outage while

antennas repoint

• GUI needs to work in concert with the beam select algorithm within the modem and be able to manually override the switch

• Operator needs to be cognizant of time to beam switch and have the ability to override a beam switch