Inter-Satellite Location Measurement of the Formation Flight Satellite System Using UWB Signal

Abstract

[Abstract] Satellite communication is expected to provide wide coverage areas and robustness for natural disaster or emergency use. It takes several years for development of a satellite and cannot be equipped with the latest technology in comparison with ground radio communication technology. Moreover satellite payload should become larger in proportion to advancement of a function, and maintenance of satellites becomes complicated when there are some troubles in the payload. The formation flight satellite system is a novel solution for the enhancement of satellite functionality and reliability. In this system, it is necessary to know the relative position between individual satellites accurately and to control a position each other. This paper proposes and evaluates a method of the location using Ultra Wide Band (UWB) signal by computer simulation. This UWB signal changes the carrier frequency of every pulse. Influence of Doppler shift is taken into account in Inter-Satellite ranging, and it was done by FM-CW radar, pulsed UWB and Multi-pulsed UWB. This calculation is based on the time of arrival (ToA) and two way ranging (TWR). Satellite location information is calculated from the ToA of the received signal, and this calculation from known location of master satellite around other satellites has to be done. This paper shows that multi-pulsed UWB is effective of ranging and location precision.