UAV Communication System using Embedded Software

The algorithm behind Antenna Controller Software for Large Wing 
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle  (UAV)

 
During the last decade, the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has increased drastically. 

 Together with the development of technology, Unmanned Air Vehicle System (UAVs)’s usage is growing day by day, so it is very important that UAV’s data link system has to be firm and reliable. Since the data link is the lifeline of UAV being remotely controlled by ground pilot it must be accurate & precise and continuous. Now a day’s UAVS/ Drone are produced by many suppliers but the most important thing is to provide reliable and secure data links. To provide the continuous data link between the ground system and UAV, Omni and A directional antenna is being used based on the range and coverage requirements. Conventional Airborne Antenna Tracking Systems consisting directional antenna are bulky as they consist mechanical rotating part i.e. Positioner, which needs a high degree of stability, of the airborne platform.

 The Proposed software-driven Automatic Sector Switching Antenna System (ASSAS) for UAV and for Satcom-On-The-Move (SOTM) applications offers many advantages in terms of weight, volume, size and cost. 

The key challenge of ASSAS is the development of reliable and ruggedizes software, which has been described in details in this blog.

Figure-01

1. INTRODUCTION

Datalinks for   UAV’s primarily consists of    Up-link Commands shall be communicated continuously to the  UAV during  Take-Off,  Landing and cruise phases and  Down-link for the presentation of information from  UAV  to the payload operator,  the air-vehicle data and payload data to the  GCS (Ground Control Station). To provide the continuous datalink between UAV and  GCS, on-board Omni antenna, as well as Directional antenna with the tracking system, is used. Since the usage of onboard  Omni antenna provides limited range due to low gain and high perturbation effects,  therefore an on-board directional antenna with tracking system is required to enhance the datalink range.  But due to the mechanical movement of the airborne data terminal,  its stability on the airborne platform is one of the main issues.  In this blog, we are presenting an innovative approach of software-controlled Automatic  Sector  Switching  Antenna  System.  It eliminates completely moving part such as slip ring,  motor, a pedestal from conventional systems and provide the continuous data link between Ground Station and Airborne Platform.

2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENT

Two types of Automatic Sector Switching Antenna systems are realized in S & C band frequencies. S-Band Sector Switching antenna system is based on twelve sector antennas to provide a continuous link with geostationary satellite while mounted on the moving ground platform for Satcom on the Move operation. C-band Sector Switching antenna system is based on eight sector antennas to be mounted on the airborne platform to provide a continuous link between airborne and ground control station. Antenna System assemblies will mainly consist of

1) Multi-Sector Antenna System including Radome

2) Multi-Channel Antenna Controller

3) Software for Multi-Channel Antenna Controller

2.1 C-Band Sector Switching Antenna 

C-Band Sector switching antenna mounted on the UAV platform with 15% bandwidth is required to provide continuous link Ground Control Station. Antenna design is based on the innovative concept of Beam switching antenna which consists of 8 planar antennas, 7 on sides and one on top to provide the hemispherical coverage. Microstrip Patch antenna technology in comparison of conventional antennas such as horn etc. offers many advantages in terms of weight, size, volume, cost and performance. Due to high efficiency and compact in size Microstrip antennas are widely used for data link applications. The operational scenario of C-Band datalink between airborne and Ground systems is shown in figure-01

2.2 S-Band Sector Switching Antenna 

S-Band Sector switching antenna mounted on a ground vehicle with 8 % bandwidth is required for the pointing towards geostationary satellite as SOTM operation. Antenna design is based on the Beam switching antenna which consists of 12 planar antennas, 11 on the side and 1 on the top side to provide the hemispherical coverage. It offers many advantages in terms of weight, size, volume, cost and performance. The operational scenario of S-Band SOTM systems is shown below in figure-2.

 

Figure-02 

3. REALIZED C-BAND ASSAS HARDWARE

C-band planar antennas have been designed based on Microstrip patch configuration to get the advantage of low profile, low volume and low weight. To achieve the wide bandwidth special techniques using electromagnetic coupling between stacked patch has been used. Prototypes of these antennas have been developed and various design parameters have been validated by means of radiation patterns and return loss measurements. Photographs of realized C-Band ASSAS Antenna hardware are shown in figure-03. Various other components of ASSAS such as GPS antenna with integrated receiver Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) sensor, SP8T RF Switch and Antenna Controller Unit are shown in figure-04.

 Figure-03

Figure-04

4. ANTENNA CONTROL UNIT (ACU)  

 

Antenna Control Unit (ACU) is the brain of the antenna control system used for controlling the antenna in open-loop tracking and closed-loop tracking. The antenna look angle is calculated by using look angle algorithms mentioned in subsequent paragraph 5.1 Then calculated look angle i.e. Azimuth (AZ) and Elevation (EL) angle will be checked against the sectoral antenna coverage range as per the pre-defined look-up table. Accordingly, ACU software will select the desired sector antenna based on the calculated look angle and pre-defined sector antenna coverage range. The update rate of the interface module i.e. getting sensor data in every 100ms, during this period ACU Software receive data from AHRS and GPS. 

Figure-05 

 ACU is based on 32-bit ARM-Cortex M4 Microcontroller with 120 MHz clock speed, 2MB flash memory and 640 Kb SDRAM. Its interface diagram with AHRS and GPS is shown in Figure -05. ACU accepts commands over Ethernet link from the Host computer to work into different operating modes and executes the task in Real-time. Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) has been used for the development of application software at the target side whereas atolic truestudio used as an editor. The footprint of the Application Software is 11 Kb. The software has the capability for both open-loop as well as closed-loop tracking.

4.1 Open Loop Tracking 

 

This method combines data from GPS and AHRS mounted on the vehicle to calculate its position (Lat, Long) and orientation with respect to global axes. Relative beam pointing elevation and azimuth angles are calculated using position values of vehicle w.r.t. geostationary satellite. Accordingly, the sectoral Antenna selected using a multi-port RF switch. This operation is repeated based on the sensor data update rate to maintain the continuous communication link.

Components Required for Open Loop Tracking:

a) GPS Unit
b) AHRS
c) Microcontroller

4.2 Closed Loop Tracking 

In this method, the RF signal from the received RF chain is coupled using a coupler and measured for its power level using an RF detector. This value is digitized and stored in a lookup table. The process is repeated for all the sectors in a sequential manner, and sector with maximum value is selected for establishing the link. Once the initial operation is completed, this is repeated only if the measured value of the incoming RF signal goes below a pre-defined threshold.

Components Required for Closed-Loop Tracking:
a) RF Coupler,
b) Band Pass Filter,
c) Low Noise Amplifier (LNA),
d) RF Detector,
e) Analogue to Digital Converter,
f) Microcontroller

Open-loop tracking will be the primary method for antenna selection whereas closed-loop tracking can be used for automatic selection in the absence of GPS and AHRS data.

 5. ACU SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT   

 

ACU is an Embedded System which is based on Embedded Software. Embedded Software is used to control the functions of various hardware devices and systems. Embedded Software controls device functions in the same way that a computer’s operating system controls the function of software applications. Almost any device can contain embedded software – from those so simple you might not imagine they had computer control, like toasters and light bulbs, to complex tracking systems in missiles and satellite. A basic diagram of any Embedded System is given in Figure-06 

 Figure-06 

The main requirement of the ACU software is to calculate the Azimuth (AZ) and Elevation angle (EL) with respect to Ground Data Terminal (GDT) or Geostationary satellite and selection of sectoral antenna. The AZ and EL position of the antenna are required to be stabilized in space as the aircraft rolls, pitches and yaws. Stabilization is achieved by transforming the Earth's North East Down (NED) frame antenna angles to the body frame using the instantaneous body aircraft attitudes supplied by AHRS. 

5.1 ACU Software Algorithm for Calculation of Antenna look angle 

It is necessary to choose a reference coordinate system in which the states of both the satellite and aircraft position can be represented. For the purposes of measuring and determining the aircraft and satellite positions, it is convenient to use Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed Frame (ECEF) frame coordinate system. The ECEF has two common coordinate systems: a polar-type "latitude-longitude-height" called geodetic coordinates, and the simpler three Cartesian axes X, Y, Z. Global positions are often given in lat-long-height coordinates (geodic coordinates), but since X, Y, Z are far easier to work with, we'll convert all lat-long-height to X, Y, Z. Hence satellite and aircraft positions are converted from geodic coordinates to Cartesian coordinates. After that, the equation of the line joining aircraft and satellite in ECEF Frame of reference is determined and then it is important to do the coordinate transformation from ECEF frame to the navigation frame (NED Frame). NED frame, antenna angles are then converted to the body frame using the instantaneous body aircraft attitudes to determine the AZ, EL position of the antenna.

Geodic (Latitude, Longitude and Height) to ECEF( X ,Y ,Z ) Transformation :

X= (N+h) cosα cosɷ
Y= (N+h) cosα sinɷ
Z= [N(1-e^2)+h]sinα
α,ɷ,h = geodic latitude, longitude and height ,
X,Y, Z = earth centered earth fixed Cartesian coordinates
a = semi major earth axis(ellipsoid equatorial radius)
b = semi minor earth axis(ellipsoid polar radius)
N = radius of curvature in prime vertical

Flattening

F = (a-b) / a;

Eccentricity squared

e = eccentricity square of flattening F

ECEF( X, Y, Z ) to Geodic (Latitude, Longitude and Height ) Transformation

p = Square root of (X +Y )

ECEF vector to NED Transformation

ECEF to NED transformation converts geodic latitude and longitude into a 3-by -3 direction cosine matrix. This matrix performs the coordinate transformation of a vector in earth centered earth fixed (ECEF) axis into a vector in north-east-down (NED) axis. 

 

NED to Body frame Transformation

The instantaneous attitude of the aircraft body w.r.t. to NED frame are the three Euler angles viz, ψ yaw, θ pitch and ϕ roll. In order to position the antenna in the required direction in space, one more transformation is required from the NED frame to the Body frame. yaw, pitch and roll rotation matrices, Cl, C2 and C3 respectively where 

 

 Body frame to Az, EL angle transformation

Once the direction cosines of the vector in the body frame are obtained, it is a simple matter to calculate Azimuth (AZ) and Elevation (EL) angles of this vector.
Once ACU calculates these two parameters (AZ and EL angle), these parameters are matched with pre-defined angle versus sectoral antenna as per look-up Table and then ACU switch-on those corresponding sector antenna. Same algorithms have been used in S-band & C-band ASSAS System, both systems were tested on 3-Axis Test Bench facility, which can move ASSAS system in all the three-axis (roll, pitch and yaw) simultaneously and the result was captured using data logging device and after analysis, it was found to be satisfactory.

6. VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION RESULTS  

 

Automatic Sector Switching Antenna System (ASSAS) was installed on the 3-Axis Test Bench Facility. Detailed testing of the system was carried to verify the functional requirements by means of rotating the system in all the 3-axis using 3-axis test bench setup in Roll, Pitch and Yaw

Figure-07 

axis motions. Antenna switching was verified with GUI Software and RF Power received at ASSA System using Handheld Spectrum Analyzer. Block diagram of the test set-up is shown in Figure-07.
ASSA System testing was carried-out at open antenna test range by placing ASSA system at 2-axis Positioner at the receiver side and standard horn antenna was used at transmit side. ASSA system was rotated in Az direction with 90 deg/minute.

Received power level was plotted with respect to Azimuth angle in polar format to get Az pattern of ASSA system as shown in Figure-08.

Figure-08 

7. CONCLUSION  

 

Proposed Automatic Sector Switching Antenna System (ASSAS) supports the continuous data link between UAV and Ground Data terminal and SOTM link between ground vehicle and geostationary satellite. Proposed antenna control algorithm reduces the stability and complex control system issues associated with mechanical moving parts in case of conventional tracking systems. Present system offers many advantages in terms of weight, size, volume, cost, performance and ruggedness in comparison of conventional tracking systems. It is completely Embedded Software-driven system that makes Sector Antenna System as a Smart Antenna System. 

research paper