Enabling Hybrid Architectures and Mesh Network Topologies to Support the Global Multi-Domain Community
Year: 2020
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The turn of the new decade also represents the dawn of a new shift in domain operations. Concepts such as “Space Dial Tone,” reliable global access to internet, on-demand Earth observation, and remote sensing, while still not fully realized, are no longer purely imaginative. These concepts are in high demand and are coupled with the goals of Global Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). Small satellites (smallsats) have emerged as functionally reliable platforms, driving the development of next-generation satellite constellations. To achieve the potential of tomorrow’s technology, these constellations must embrace space mission architectures based on interoperable, open-system constructs such as hybrid architectures and mesh network topologies. This paper presents the full timeline for realization of multi-node, disparate (sovereign, coalition, commercial, etc.) multi-domain (Space, Air, Maritime, Land, and Cyber) systems to support future space mission architectures. It identifies and discusses the underlying technologies needed to bring new “system-of-systems” concepts to operational capability. Technologies to be discussed include: message-agnostic physical/protocol “Bridges”; Machine-to-Machine (M2M) data sharing enabled through Electronic Data Sheet (EDS) standards; and, new concepts related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled human decision making. Tying these technologies together effectively will positively impact the smallsat market and fundamentally change mission architectures in the near future.
Authors: Stanley O. Kennedy, Alexander R. Dunn, Danielle Cleveland
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3045796746