Enhanced satellite communications
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsMatthew E. Gilbert-Eyres, Eric T. Hosey, Russell A. Patenaude, Scott T. Droste
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for enhanced satellite communication coverage via an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system may include a satellite configured for orbiting Earth, a vehicle configured for ground transportation on Earth, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operable for relaying communication signals between the vehicle and the satellite. The system may be configured for transmitting control instructions to the UAV for controlling aerial positioning of the UAV relative to the vehicle and the satellite. The control instructions may specifying a roll, a pitch, and a yaw for orientating the UAV to point towards the satellite.
Claims20
A system for connecting a vehicle with a satellite, comprising:
- a satellite controller configured for operating onboard the vehicle to select the satellite from a plurality of orbiting satellites based on Ephemeris data of the plurality of orbiting satellites, a current position of the vehicle, and a current time;
- an intermediary controller configured for operating onboard the vehicle to instruct an unmanned aerial vehicle to:
- fly relative to the vehicle to maintain a first bidirectional communication connection with the vehicle;
- and
- fly relative to the satellite to maintain a second bidirectional communication connection with the satellite;
- and
- a communications controller configured for operating onboard the vehicle to wirelessly establish:
- the first bidirectional communication connection between the vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle for wirelessly exchanging data bidirectionally between the vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- and
- the second bidirectional communication connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the satellite, the second bidirectional communication connection operable for wirelessly exchanging the data bidirectionally between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the satellite.
A system for enhanced satellite communication coverage via an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- an intermediary controller configured for operating onboard a vehicle to instruct the unmanned aerial vehicle to:
- fly relative to the vehicle to maintain a first bidirectional communication connection with the vehicle;
- and
- fly relative to a satellite to maintain a second bidirectional communication connection with the satellite, wherein a selection of the satellite is based on Ephemeris data of the plurality of orbiting satellites, a current position of the vehicle, and a current time;
- and
- a communications controller configured for operating onboard the vehicle to wirelessly establish:
- the first bidirectional communication connection between the vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle, the first bidirectional communication connection including a bidirectional terrestrial portion between the vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- and
- the second bidirectional communication connection between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the satellite, the second bidirectional communication connection including a bidirectional extraterrestrial portion between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the satellite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.