Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Next-Generation Mega Satellite Networks

TL;DR

This paper explores how artificial intelligence can be applied to manage and optimize next-generation massive satellite networks, addressing their unique dynamic features and integration challenges.

Contribution

It introduces AI techniques tailored for satellite network management, covering forecasting, spectrum sensing, signal detection, and security, with insights into practical implementation.

Findings

AI enables proactive adjustment to dynamic satellite link conditions.

Enhanced spectrum sensing and signal processing through AI techniques.

Frameworks for integrating AI into satellite network infrastructure.

Abstract

Space communications, particularly massive satellite networks, re-emerged as an appealing candidate for next generation networks due to major advances in space launching, electronics, processing power, and miniaturization. However, massive satellite networks rely on numerous underlying and intertwined processes that cannot be truly captured using conventionally used models, due to their dynamic and unique features such as orbital speed, inter-satellite links, short pass time, and satellite footprint, among others. Hence, new approaches are needed to enable the network to proactively adjust to the rapidly varying conditions associated within the link. Artificial intelligence (AI) provides a pathway to capture these processes, analyze their behavior, and model their effect on the network. This article introduces the application of AI techniques for integrated terrestrial satellite networks, particularly massive satellite network communications. It details the unique features of massive satellite networks, and the overarching challenges concomitant with their integration into the current communication infrastructure. Moreover, this article provides insights into state-of-the-art AI techniques across various layers of the communication link. This entails applying AI for forecasting the highly dynamic radio channel, spectrum sensing and classification, signal detection and demodulation, inter-satellite and satellite access network optimization, and network security. Moreover, future paradigms and the mapping of these mechanisms onto practical networks are outlined.