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JP-2026075621-A - Maintaining line of sight in wireless hybrid mobile mesh networks

JP2026075621AJP 2026075621 AJP2026075621 AJP 2026075621AJP-2026075621-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a wireless mesh network that realizes a line-of-sight (LOS) node communication environment in a wireless mesh network using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform nodes. [Solution] The wireless mesh network includes a set of data resources available to nodes through the wireless mesh network, including an environmental contour map storing data representing the characteristics of the environment that can interfere with LOS node communications, and a line-of-sight acquisition and recovery service that operates to acquire LOS using a flight path override module by positioning the UAV node platform according to the data on the environmental contour map. [Selection Diagram] None

Inventors

  • ワックス，ジョーダン
  • マーロウ，ウェストン エー．
  • マサソン，ブライアン
  • カトリ，サンジェイ
  • ウッタムチャンドニ，アヴィナッシュ
  • ワートハイマー，ダブリュー，ジェレミー
  • セラ，ポール
  • カホイ，エル，ケリー
  • ケイジ，パトリック

Assignees

  • スペースレイク，インコーポレイテッド

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20251022
Priority Date
20241022

Claims (8)

  1. A wireless mesh network for line-of-sight (LOS) node communication, wherein the wireless mesh network is Multiple mobile nodes in an environment, each mounted on a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform, and including a flight path override module that operates to change the speed of the UAV platform, wherein at least two nodes of the wireless mesh network have communication capabilities limited to LOS, A set of data resources available to nodes through the aforementioned wireless mesh network, A wireless mesh network including an environmental contour map storing data representing the characteristics of the environment that can interfere with LOS node communications, and a set of data resources including line-of-sight acquisition and recovery services that position UAV node platforms according to the data in the environmental contour map and operate to acquire LOS using the flight path override module.
  2. The wireless mesh network according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of nodes communicate via free-space optical (FSO) communication.
  3. The wireless mesh network according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of nodes further communicate via radio frequency (RF) communication.
  4. The aforementioned set of data resources is The wireless network according to claim 1, further comprising a line-of-sight loss notification service that operates to communicate line-of-sight loss notifications, the line-of-sight acquisition and recovery service recovers the LOS in response to the line-of-sight loss notification.
  5. The aforementioned set of data resources is A location prediction service for predicting the location of the UAV node platform, It further includes a predicted line-of-sight warning service that receives the predicted UAV location and acts to communicate line-of-sight warnings, The line-of-sight acquisition and recovery service maintains the line of sight in response to the line-of-sight loss warning. The wireless network according to claim 1.
  6. The aforementioned set of data resources is The LOS map for a node further includes data relating to the space surrounding the node, up to the outer perimeter of the network, where there are LOS to and from the node. The wireless network according to claim 1.
  7. The aforementioned set of data resources is The system further includes a linked node LOS map for a pair of nodes connected by an LOS data communication link, wherein the linked node LOS map stores data relating to the area of the environment corresponding to a common line of sight to both nodes of the pair. The wireless network according to claim 6.
  8. The aforementioned set of data resources is The system further includes an available LOS map for a node, the available LOS map storing data related to all locations that the UAV platform of the node can position while still maintaining LOS with all other nodes with which it has LOS communication links. The wireless network according to claim 7.

Description

This invention relates to a communication network, specifically a mobile wireless mesh network utilizing both free-space optical (FSO) and radio frequency (RF) communication modes. Mobile mesh communication networks provide the flexibility, redundancy, and scalability of modern communication systems across various platforms and applications in diverse environments. Conventional wireless mobile mesh networks primarily rely on radio frequency (RF) communication, which is often susceptible to interference, bandwidth limitations, and range constraints. Free-space optical (FSO) communication offers a high-bandwidth and secure alternative, but is limited to line-of-sight (LOS) communication and restricted by environmental conditions such as fog, rain, or smoke. Unfortunately, LOS communication between mobile nodes is susceptible to interference from natural and artificial features of the environmental terrain. Therefore, having a wireless mesh network for LOS node communication is highly desirable, as it allows the network to be configured to acquire, maintain, and recover LOS between nodes in environments with terrain features that can interfere with LOS. This objective is achieved by the present invention. A mobile hybrid mesh network according to one embodiment of the present invention is conceptually shown.This illustrates the relocation of a mobile node in a network to avoid interference interfering with LOS communication with another node in the network, according to one embodiment of the present invention.This invention illustrates the predictive positioning of a mobile node in a network to avoid interference that may disrupt LOS communication with another node in the network, according to one embodiment of the present invention.This document illustrates a location configuration and resources for a mesh network for controlling a mobile UAV node platform to acquire, maintain, and recover optimal LOS among nodes, according to one embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of conciseness and clarity, the elements shown in the diagrams are not necessarily drawn to actual size, and the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to others. In addition, reference numbers may be repeated in the diagrams to indicate corresponding or similar elements. Figure 1 conceptually illustrates a mobile hybrid mesh network 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The network 100 includes nodes 101, 103, 105, and 107, each mounted on a VTOL-operable UAV platform and equipped with a suitable avionic system, network interface, and data communication equipment for mutual communication via links 111, 113, 115, 117, and 119. While the network 100 is primarily implemented on a VTOL UAV platform, in a related embodiment, the network 100 also includes node 131 mounted on a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO) communicating with node 103 via link 121, node 141 mounted on a ground vehicle communicating with node 105 via link 123, and node 151 at a ground station communicating with node 107 via link 125 and with satellite 131 via link 127. Furthermore, in related embodiments, network 100 also includes a non-VTOL UAV platform. In addition, network 100 includes connectivity to an external network 161 (e.g., the Internet), such as via a link 163 to a satellite-based node 131 and a link 165 to a ground station-based node 151. While the external network 161 is not part of network 100, in various embodiments of the present invention, network 161 and network 100 can be connected and communicate with each other. The communication modalities supported by the nodes via each link are consistent with Legend 180. Within the scope of this invention, the network 100 primarily relates to LOS between UAV-based nodes. Satellite-based nodes 131, ground vehicle-based nodes 141, and ground station-based nodes 151 may participate in LOS-related transactions (e.g., to provide data and other resources), but they are not actively controlled according to the LOS control scheme described herein. Figure 2 shows the relocation of the mobile node 101 of the network shown in Figure 1 to avoid interference 201 interfering with LOS communication between node 101 and node 103 of the network, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Three locations of node 101 are shown: The initial position 101a, communicating with node 103 via link 113, as shown in the initial orientation 113a; The intermediate position 101b following movement 203, which becomes the first segment 113a, is obstructed by structure 201 at intersection 207, causing an interruption in the LOS of link 113, thus blocking the coupled FSO communication of link segment 113a, and therefore the second segment 113b of link 113 is limited to RF communication (in practice, not only is FSO communication blocked by obstructions such as structure 201, but RF communication can also be adversely affected); and The final position 101c following movement 205 is calculated by th