What are some satellite communication applications for smart drones?

1 Satellite communication basics

Satellite communication systems use artificial satellites orbiting the Earth to relay signals between different points on the ground, in the air, or in space. The satellites can operate in different frequency bands, such as L-band, S-band, C-band, X-band, Ku-band, or Ka-band, depending on the intended application and the trade-offs between bandwidth, power, cost, and interference. The satellites can also have different orbital altitudes and configurations, such as geostationary orbit (GEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), low Earth orbit (LEO), or high-altitude platform stations (HAPS). The choice of the satellite system affects the latency, coverage, availability, and scalability of the communication link.

2 Advantages of satellite communication for smart drones

Satellite communication offers many advantages for smart drone applications, such as global coverage in remote or inaccessible areas, resilience to harsh environments and intentional attacks, secure encrypted and jam-resistant links, flexibility in data types and modes of operation, and interoperability between different types of drones and other platforms. It can reach oceans, mountains, deserts, or disaster zones, withstand harsh conditions, provide secure data and control links, support various types of data and operations, and enable seamless integration between drones and other platforms.

3 Challenges of satellite communication for smart drones

Satellite communication also poses some challenges for smart drone applications. Cost-wise, satellite communication can be expensive compared to terrestrial networks, especially for high-bandwidth or low-latency applications. This cost includes the design, launch, operation, and maintenance of the satellites, as well as the equipment and licenses for the ground terminals. Moreover, satellite communication can involve technical and regulatory issues that require specialized expertise and coordination. In terms of performance, satellite communication can suffer from limitations or impairments that affect the quality and reliability of the link such as propagation delay, attenuation, fading, noise, or interference caused by the distance, atmosphere, weather, or other sources.

4 Current use cases of satellite communication for smart drones

Satellite communication is already being used for a variety of smart drone applications, such as military operations, civilian services, and research projects. For military purposes, satellite communication can provide secure and robust command and control, ISR, and EW capabilities for smart drones in combat, search and rescue, or border patrol missions. In the civilian sector, it can enable efficient delivery, inspection, and monitoring services for e-commerce, logistics, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, or environment. As for research purposes, satellite communication can enable collaborative exploration and experimentation for smart drones in science, engineering, education, or art.

5 Future use cases of satellite communication for smart drones

Satellite communication is expected to enable new and emerging smart drone applications, such as providing broadband access and backhaul for smart drones that can act as flying base stations or relays for terrestrial networks, especially in rural or underserved areas. It can also support seamless and continuous handover and roaming for smart drones that travel across different regions or countries, especially in transnational or global operations. Furthermore, satellite communication can facilitate advanced and adaptive decision making and coordination for smart drones that operate independently or in swarms, especially in complex or dynamic environments.

6 Here’s what else to consider

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