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5B/411 (Annex 18)-E
US Radiocommunications SectorFact Sheet
Working Party: WP 5B / Document No: USWP5B20-13_First Draft
Ref: Annex 18 to 5B/411 / Date: 5th February 2018
Document Title:
WORKING document TOWARDS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT NEW [RECOMMENDATION] [REPORT] ITU-R M.[UAS CNPC_CHAR]
Characteristics of Unmanned Aircraft System Control and Non-Payload Earth Stations for use with Space Stations operating in the Fixed Satellite Service
Author(s)/Contributors(s):
Don Nellis
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20591
Michael Neale
ACES Corporation for the FAA / Phone/Email:
Phone: (202) 267-9779
e-mail:
Phone: (858) 705-8978
e-mail:
Purpose/Objective: The purpose of this contribution is to re-present the contribution that was carried over from the November 2017 meeting (Annex 18 of 5B/411) of WP 5B. The attached is the WP 5B chairman’s merge of all of the contributions to this report that were not discussed in November. No changes are proposed to the US contribution (Annex 1) other than those, highlighted, that were made in November to the original version submitted earlier that itself was not discussed. The purpose of this contribution is to update the proposed parameter values for the characteristics of CNPC links intended to be supported by the FSS that were presented at the November 2017 meeting of WP 5B. It will help answer the liaison requests from ICAO (5B/115 and 5B/116) from the November 2016 meeting of WP 5B and the reply from WP 5B (Annex 35 to 5B/195). It supports Resolution 155 (WRC-15) that calls for the need to consider ICAO’s progress (Resolves 18) in developing SARPs and the ITU-R’s completion of technical studies (Resolves 19) and also addresses the new Draft Guidelines for the implementation of Resolution 155 (WRC 15) Annex 28 to 5B/411.
Abstract: This contribution both answers ICAO’s need for characteristics of the CNPC links supported by the FSS to help support their safety and performance based development of regulations (SARPs) as well as the need to comply with a of number resolves (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,14,15, 16, 17) in Resolution 155 (WRC-15). ICAO’s liaison to WP 5B (5B/115 and 5B/116) in November 2016 provided a list of required parameters. This contribution provides values for the parameters directly associated with the links between the UA and UACS Earth stations and the space station (Link1, 2, 3 and 4). This report will then be used, in accordance with the Draft Guidelines for Implementation of Resolution 155 (WRC-15) Annex 28 to 5B/411, to compare the satellite network characteristics (contained in additional report) with these CNPC link characteristics to determine if the CNPC link characteristics fit within the envelope of satellite characteristics so proving that the CNPC links can be used with the FSS.
Radiocommunication Study Groups /
Source: Documents 5B/TEMP/175,5B/380 (France),
5B/388 (Japan), 5B/351(USA)
Subject:Merged contributions to [Rec.][Rep.] ITU-R M.[UASCNPC_CHAR] / Annex 18 to
Document 5B/411-E
29 November 2017
English only
Annex 18 to Working Party 5B Chairman's Report
WORKING document TOWARDS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT NEW [RECOMMENDATION] [REPORT] ITU-R M.[UAS CNPC_CHAR]
Characteristics of Unmanned Aircraft System Control and Non-Payload Earth Stations for use with Space Stations operating in the Fixed Satellite Service
[Note: This document is a merger of contribution made to this meeting of WP 5B and Annex 17 of the last Chairman’s Report. The meeting has not reviewed the content of this document and hence it cannot be considered as if any agreement has been reached with respect to the text. Additionally, completion of this document needs to be consistent with the “Draft Working Party 5B guideline for the implementation of Resolution 155 (WRC-15)” see Appendix XX to this Chairman’s Report]
1Introduction
In accordance with paragraph 5 of guidelinethe guidelines contained in annex xx217 to the WP 5B Chairman’s Report (Doc. 5B/305) the following contains a compilation of some characteristics of UAS CNPC link/Earth station received by WP5B at its May/June meeting which have not yet been agreed upon.
1.1Background
Resolution 155 (WRC-15) resolves, that assignments to stations of geostationary FSS satellite networks operating in the frequency bands 10.95-11.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 11.45-11.7 GHz (spaceto-Earth), 11.712.2GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 2, 12.2-12.5 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 3, 12.512.75 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Regions 1 and 3 and 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), and in the frequency bands 14-14.47 GHz (Earth-to-space) and 29.5-30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space), may be used for UAS CNPC Links in non-segregated airspace, provided that the conditions specified in resolves below are met.
14 that, unless otherwise agreed between the administrations concerned, UA CNPC Link Earth stations shall not cause harmful interference to terrestrial services of other administrations (see also Annex2);
15 that, in order to implement resolves 14 above, power flux-density hard limits need to be developed for UAS CNPC Links; one possible example of such provisional limits to protect the fixed service is provided in Annex 2; subject to agreement between the administrations concerned, that annex may be used for the implementation of this resolution;
16that the power flux-density hard limits provided in Annex 2 shall be reviewed and, if necessary, revised by the next conference;
[..]
18to consider the progress obtained by ICAO in the process of preparation of SARPs for UAS CNPC Links, to review this resolution at WRC23, taking into account the results of the implementation ofResolution 156 (WRC-15), and to take necessary actions as appropriate;
19that ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITUR) studies on technical, operational and regulatory aspects in relation to the implementation of this resolution shall be completed, together with the adoption of relevant ITUR Recommendations defining the technical characteristics of CNPC Links and conditions of sharing with other services,
2Identification of all satellite networks recorded in the MIFR
[TBD]
3Identification of Satellite network parameters and determination of their envelope
[TBD]
24Compilation of UAS CNPC earth stations characteristics and their parameter values
[There are two lists, one for the 14/11GHz frequency band and the other for the 30/20GHz frequency band, each containing the same set of characteristic’s parameters and the Appendix 4 to the Radio Regulations reference for the data elements.
Characteristics for different systems are tabulated in columns as well as proposed Maximum and Typical values for the characteristic’s parameter values.
Since there are currently no UAS operating using CNPC Links these characteristics are based on:
1The data rates for CNPC Links in the ICAO contribution that were themselves based, in part, on Recommendation ITU R M.2171.
2The performance of representative FSS space stations operated within the notified and recorded technical parameters as published by the Radiocommunication Bureau.
3The operational scenarios as described by ICAO in 14 May 2013 (Doc.5B/269).
4The research development of an in-house Ka band on-board variable directive antenna for UAS conducted in Japan (System 1), under a government-commissioned research project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Attachment A describes the research and development program for further reference.
Annex 1 to this document contains CNPC Link Characteristics based on 1-3 above. Annex 2 contains information based on 4 above. Finally, Appendix A contains information of the WINDS satellite which was used for the evaluation test of the in-house Ka-band on-board variable directive antenna for UAS conducted in Japan as indicated in 4 above.
The characteristic’s parameter values of the proposed characteristics are supported by link budget analysis that maximizes the available link margin (to provide the highest quality link performance for these safety of flight applications) while ensuring the links comply with off-axis e.i.r.p. density (ITU-R S.524 UACS Earth station and S.728 UA Earth station) limits as well as the pfd limits at the Earth’s surface (RR Article 21.16) and operation with space station performances that are representative of FSS space stations operated within the notified and recorded technical parameters as published by the Radiocommunication Bureau.
Editor’s note: In accordance with contribution from France Doc. 5B/158, this document can provide technical and operational characteristics of UA CNPC earth stations expected from ICAO or/and current UAV operators to conduct studies according to resolves 11 to 17.
Since, according to resolves 5 of Resolution 155 (WRC-15), earth stations on board UA have to operate within the notified parameters of an associated satellite network. One of the major issues is that the effective characteristics of the satellite links of a satellite network depend on the bilateral agreements reached by administrations and are not available at ITU. Indeed, the frequency assignments recorded in the MIFR under RR Article 11 do not fully reflect the outcome of bilateral negotiations taking place during the coordination process of a satellite network under RR Article 9.
[Editor's note: The question of the compliance of the proposed protection ratio with the resolves 11 of Resolution 155 WRC-15, has been raised]
The preliminary analysis of an estimation of interference environment caused by FH (Doc. 5B/195, Annex 28) shows that the protection criteria may not be complied in all situations. However it is set forth in resolves 11 “that earth stations on board UA shall be designed and operated so as to be able to accept the interference caused by terrestrial services operating in conformity with the Radio Regulations in the frequency bands listed in resolves 1 without complaints under Article 15;”
The proposal is to replace the values protection ratios in the following tables by not applicable.
Indeed, required performance availability to be fully observed by UAV/UAS should be determined by ICAO. Issues related to protection criteria can be dealt with by ITU-R only if required performance availability are provided.]
ANNEX 1
Since Resolution 155 (WRC-15) focusses on a range of specific frequency bands in all of the following tables in Annex 1 the 10.95-11.2GHz (space-to-Earth), 11.45-11.7GHz (space-to-Earth), 11.712.2GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region2, 12.2-12.5GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region3, 12.512.75GHz (space-to-Earth) and 14-14.47GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands will be considered as one group referred to as the 14/11GHz frequency band and the 19.7-20.2GHz (space-to-Earth), and 29.5-30.0GHz (Earth-to-space) bands will also be considered as one group referred to as the 30/20GHz band.
Annex 1 contains two lists, one for the 14/11GHz frequency band and the other for the 30/20GHz frequency band, each containing the same set of characteristic’s parameters and the Appendix 4 to the Radio Regulations reference for the data elements.
Characteristics for different systems are tabulated in columns as well as proposed Maximum and Typical values for the characteristic’s parameter values.
Since there are currently no UAS operating using CNPC Links these characteristics are based on:
1The data rates for CNPC Links in the ICAO contribution that were themselves based, in part, on Recommendation ITU R M.2171.
2The performance of representative FSS space stations operated within the notified and recorded technical parameters as published by the Radiocommunication Bureau.
3The operational scenarios as described by ICAO in 14 May 2013 (5B/269).
The characteristic’s parameter values of the proposed characteristics are supported by link budget analysis that maximizes the available link margin (to provide the highest quality link performance for these safety of flight applications) while ensuring the links comply with off-axis e.i.r.p. density (ITU-R S.524 UACS Earth station and S.728 UA Earth station) limits as well as the pfd limits at the Earth’s surface (RR Article 21.16) and operation with space station performances that are representative of FSS space stations operated within the notified and recorded technical parameters as published by the Radiocommunication Bureau.
M:\BRSGD\TEXT2017\SG05\WP5B\400\411\411N18e.docx ( )
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5B/411 (Annex 18)-E
14/11GHz general and space station characteristics
14/11 GHz links 1, 2, 3 and 4 characteristics
30/20GHz general and space station characteristics
30/20GHz links 1, 2, 3 and 4 characteristics
M:\BRSGD\TEXT2017\SG05\WP5B\400\411\411N18e.docx ( )
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5B/411 (Annex 18)-E
]
5Comparison Study
[TBD]
ANNEXttachment2A
On-board Unmanned Aircraft Tracking Antenna Development
for Satellite Communication
1Introduction
1.1Background
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have been attracting attention in recent years in the world for a variety of applications such as supervision and monitoring of wind and flood damages.The realization of the control and non-payload communication (CNPC) links for the operation of UAS between a remote pilot and unmanned aircraft (UA) in the beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) areas enables the flight in a wide range by the use of the functions of the global scale of fixed satellite service (FSS) network. Since the Ku/Ka bands are already crowded, we need to consider sharing the bands with those of existing systems such as FSS and also the interference from/to the other satellites. For these reasons, the research and development of interference mitigation techniques has become an urgent issue. Specifically, the antenna beam of on-board tracking antenna must be appropriately controlled to prevent adverse effects on the other satellites.
In Japan, several government-commissioned research projects of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications have been conducted for realizing new wireless communication applications using UAS [1]. This document presents the development of an on-board Ka-band tracking antenna in order to meet the needs of the implementation of the UAS CNPC links between the UA and satellite as an example of the government-commissioned research projects.
1.22UAS CNPC link
Figure 1 illustrates UAS using satellite links considered in ITU-R, which consists of a geostationary satellite station for FSS, an unmanned aircraft earth station (UAES) and an unmanned aircraft control station (UACS). In this system, we consider that the CNPC links, which are performed between UACS and UAES, are divided into Links 1, 2, 3, and 4 as shown in Fig. 1.
The characteristics of the links 1 and 4 between UACS and FSS space station (FSS-SS) in Fig. 1 can be considered to be equated with those of the conventional satellite communication channel. However, the characteristics of the links 2 and 3 between FSS-SS and UAES may be different from those of the links 1 and 4. When we develop on-board antenna for UA, we have to take into account the characteristics of the propagation of the links 2 and 3 and the motion characteristics of the UA. It is also necessary to refer relevant standards such as the protection criterions for UAS and for existing systems.
FIGURE 1
Unmanned aircraft system and CNPC links
23Performance requirements considering the use of UAS
23.1Design principles of the Ka-band radiation unit
As the first step toward development to on-board antenna for UA, the characteristics of the propagation of the links between satellite and UAES and the motion characteristics of the UA are taken into account. It is also needed to refer to relevant standards such as protection criteria of existing systems and UAS. There are several discussions to be referred on the relevant CNPC links to operate UAS such as the working document towards a new Report ITU-R M.[UAS-FSS] in ITUR. On the other hand, there is another discussion on the use of Earth Stations In Motion (ESIMs) which operates in Ka-band GSO FSS networks (RR No. 5.527A and Res. 156 (WRC-15)).
In consideration of the above factors, a Ka-band on-board antenna for the UAS was developed to meet the following conditions:
–Consider the angle ranges of the antenna tracking by considering the longitude and latitude from Japan to track the stationary satellites, and control of the antenna beam.
–Whenever possible, to reduce the size, weight, power saving.
–Consider lowering the height of the antenna mounting system.
–Consider the flexible mounting performance in order to respond to diversification of mobile communication using geostationary satellites.
–Wide bandwidth to satisfy the ESIMs ofthe Ka band (29.5 ~ 30.0 GHz/ 19.7~20.2GHz band)
–Off-axis e.i.r.p. satisfies Recommendation ITU-R S.524-9.
Most Ku/Ka-band on-board antennas under development or existing have multi-horns or slot array as feeding method to make beam formation. As for the antenna beam control system, they mostly introduce mechanical drive system. Generally, phased array system is advantageous to control the angle of the flexible beam forming. Also, it is possible to reduce the height of the rotation diameter of the antenna.
Meanwhile, there are some drawbacks of the phased array antenna such as a decrease in gain as a decrease in the effective aperture plane, the high power consumption, and high cost. Referring to the development or some existing Ku/Ka-band onboard antennas, the reason why they introduced a mechanical drive system to the altitude and azimuth control was understandable.
In view of the currently available technologies, the mechanical drive system of elevation and azimuth control is thought to be a possible solution for on-board UA antennas at this point.
23.2Required specifications and link budget design
In order to design the antenna specifications for developing the antenna, the communication speed per one UA is supposed to be 5 Mbits/s because of transmitting high quality video images for see-and-avoid in addition to command and control (C2) link, and the communication requirement and conditions for the link budget are summarized in Tables 1 and 2.
As the reference satellite, a broadband communication satellite system ‘WINDS’ developed as an experimental communication satellite to demonstrate technology for broadband satellite communications with Internet Protocol (IP) [2] is assumed
TABLE 1
Antenna specifications requirement
No. / Items / Values / Comments1 / G/T / Over 10.0 dB/K @18.9 GHz / Information speed: 5 Mbits/s
Margin: 1.5 dB
2 / e.i.r.p. / Over 46.7 dBW @28.6 GHz / Information speed: 5 Mbits/s
Margin: 0.8 dB
3 / e.i.r.p. density / 24.5 dBW/40kHz @28.6 GHz / Information speed: 5 Mbits/s
Symbol rate: 6.02 Msymbols/s
4 / BUC output / 10 W
Table 2
Assumed conditions for link budget
No. / Items / Values / Comments1 / Satellite / G/T 17.7 dB/K / WINDS satellite[2]
2 / Repeater / Vent pipe
3 / Frequency / Tx: 28.6 GHz
Rx: 18.9 GHz
4 / Earth station / SDR-VSAT with 2.4 m antenna
5 / Modem / IDirect Infinity@5000
6 / Rain attenuation / None
7 / Modulation method / QPSK, FEC rage: 0.495, C/N: 4.0 dB, Occupied bandwidth: 6.02 MHz / Information speed rate: 5 Mbits/s
34Development of unmanned aircraft tracking antenna system Ka-band Radiation Unit
34.1Design of radiation unitResults of Antenna Design
As the results of the above discussion, a Cassegrain type antenna system with elliptical aperture reflector is introduced since it is able to expect a lower weight and manufacturing costs while reducing the height of the antenna. The Cassegrain system with elliptical aperture reflector also offers a wide frequency band to support the allocated ESIMs frequency Ka-band.