Mirko Antonini

Integrated satellite-HAP systems

Thus far, high-altitude platform (HAP)-based systems have been mainly conceived as an alternative to satellites for complementing the terrestrial network. This article aims to show that HAP should no longer be seen as a competitor technology by investors of satellites, but as a key element for an efficient hybrid terrestrial-satellite communication system. Two integrated HAP-satellite scenarios are presented, in which the HAP is used to overcome some of the shortcomings of satellite-based communications. Moreover, it is shown that the integration of HAPs with satellite systems can be used to provide more efficient fleet-management and traffic-control services and more powerful data-relay systems.

Stratospheric relay: potentialities of new satellite-high altitude platforms integrated scenarios

In the frame of the development of future telecommunications systems, an integration of heterogeneous networks (wireline, wireless, terrestrial or space-based) is envisaged. High Altitude Platfonns (HAP) could play a key role, acting as “building blocks” of such systems; therefore, a new research area concerns their integration in satellite scenarios. This paper presents and analyses two conceivable HAPsatellite integrated scenarios, considering both radio and optical communications for the HAP-satellite links.

Planar Array Synthesis with Minimum Sidelobe Level and Null Control Using Particle Swarm Optimization

This paper describes a synthesis method of planar array geometry with minimum sidelobe level and null control using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The array geometry synthesis is first formulated as an optimization problem with the goal of sidelobe level (SLL) reduction and/or null placement in certain directions, and then solved by the PSO algorithm for optimized elements locations. The steps in the problem formulation are presented along with a design example that illustrates the performance of the PSO algorithm.

Satellite data collection & forwarding systems

A possible classification of satellites can be related to their capability to provide or not provide real-time services. Nonreal-time systems store the information, and forward it to destination later, usually by means of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Nowadays the main application of these systems is small data exchange to/from remote sites where no other communication infrastructure is available, hence, covering a niche market. Low on-board memory storage capability and, moreover, low bit rate due to little bandwidth allocated for these systems do not allow us to collect and forward a considerable volume of data in the short visibility window of the satellite passage. New applications and services can be conceived through the deployment of new systems able to overcome the above-described limitations, while existing applications can be provided more cost-effectively. These aspects are addressed together with an experimental interactive system which allows huge data collection in W-band and for forwarding to the Internet.

Application of the SDR technique to the GNSS world: Improvements to realise a complete receiver

Currently, the telecommunications world is moving towards a greater degree of flexibility among different techniques and frequencies. By the way, the implementation via software of functions, generally implemented via hardware, is a crucial step, since software can allow improving reconfigurability, portability and interoperability between different kinds of systems. Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) can be considered, in this context, a significant example. In fact, the GNSS world offers, nowadays, a lot of different systems already in use, in phase of testing or in phase of implementation. A receiver able to work with different systems with no hardware modifications is therefore fundamental. This paper aims at describing the SDR technique, the state of the art of the SDR GNSS receivers and the improvements achieved by us in terms of testing new functions and future ideas.

Data Fusion for Mobile-Aided Localization in 4G Wireless Communication Systems

Along with a vision that foresees the fourth generation (4G) as based on a cellular system that will also support short-range communications among the terminals, in this paper we propose an innovative cooperative geolocation scheme and its data fusion method. The latter combines longand shortrange location information, respectively retrieved by a hybrid time of arrival / angle of arrival (TOA / AOA) technique in the cellular segment and TOA technique in the short-range segment, to enhance the location estimation accuracy of the actual hybrid cellular solutions.

System architecture of the vehicular remote tolling (VeRT) project

Future Global Navigation Satellite systems (GNSS) have significantly improve the performance of current navigation systems, providing new and enhanced capabilities. This enables the implementation of innovative and advanced services and applications more and more close to the user needs. In this framework, the road sector is one of the major potential market for GNSS applications and therefore it is very promising for future European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and GALILEO related applications. Specifically, a very important commercial opportunity is represented by the tolling-related applications. The paper describes the vehicular remote tolling (VeRT) project sponsored by Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) and performed in the frame of the first GJU call under the EC VI Framework Programme, giving attention, in particular, to the communication network issues