SATCOM for marine-based unmanned systems

Summarizes primary system level technical issues involved in assessing when and how to apply SATCOM earth terminal techniques to unmanned, marine-based platforms. Trade-off parameters relating platform physical constraints to communication performance will assist the communication system engineer in assessing the most appropriate SATCOM solution of each respective platform and/or its operational concepts. A number of existing and planned satellite systems are described to assist the designer in selecting an appropriate satellite system. Examples of end-to-end, marine-based SATCOM as applied to unmanned platforms are provided in the paper. Details are reviewed of the Marine Communication Services (MCS) Ocean Net Buoy communication suite design along with the factors setting this point design case. An extension of the Ocean net Buoy C-Band SATCOM terminal design to operation with commercial Ku-band assets is also presented.