Module K: Satellite Communication and Navigation

Subject description

Fundamentals of celestial mechanics, Kepler's laws, equation of satellite orbit, useful satellite orbits and their properties, transport of the satellite into orbit and trajectory adjustments. Space environment, managing the location and temperature of satellite, power sources on board the satellite. Properties of radio links Earth-satellite, satellite-satellite and satellite-Earth, Doppler shift in satellite communications. Design of satellite telecommunications equipment for point-to-point links, broadcasting, mobile telephony, satellite tele-command and telemetry. Ground navigation: Maritime (LORAN) Aeronautical (VOR, DME, ILS), positioning systems based on mobile telephony.

Satellite radio-navigation: Doppler systems Transit and Cikada, 3-D systems GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO. Primary and secondary radar, pulse and FM radars, Doppler radars. Remote sensing, passive radiometry, active radar with synthetic aperture.

The subject is taught in programs

Objectives and competences

The purpose of this course is to provide principles and techniques of satellite radio links and basic of navigation systems. Understanding the basic laws of space technology, the possibilities and limitations of communication links with the space orbiter. Understanding the basics of ground and satellite radio-navigation, radiolocation, and remote sensing.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, where students are introduced by the theoretical basics and laboratory courses, where some of the problems are solved practically.

Expected study results

After successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • justify the use of space satellite technology with an emphasis on satellite communication and radionavigation,
  • develop a realtime satellite tracking and orbit prediction software,
  • verify the measurement signal power from satellite by calculate satellite link budgets using transmit power, antenna gain and radio path loss,
  • calculate satellite link capacity,
  • measure signals and noise in satellite communication links and radionavigation systems,
  • determine a position of an object by received radionavigation signals,
  • develop a satellite communication receiver with antenna, filter and amplifier.  

Basic sources and literature

  1. BATAGELJ, Boštjan. Satelitske komunikacije: študijsko gradivo. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, Laboratorij za sevanje in optiko, 2013. http://lso.fe.uni-lj.si/studij/skn/gradivo/satelitske_komunikacije%20_Batagelj.pdf
  2. BATAGELJ, Boštjan. Zbirka rešenih nalog iz satelitskih komunikacij. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, Laboratorij za sevanje in optiko, 201 http://lso.fe.uni-lj.si/studij/skn_vs/gradivo/nalogeSK_1_3.pdf
  3. Matjaž Vidmar. Radiokomunikacije. 1. izd. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, 2005. ISBN 961-243-026-8.
  4. Matjaž Vidmar. Laboratorijske vaje iz radiokomunikacij. 1. izd. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, 2000. ISBN 961-6210-79-3.
  5. KOSTEVC, Drago. Navigacijske naprave in sistemi. 1. izd. Ljubljana: Založba FE in FRI, 2011. VI, 89 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-961-243-192-1.
  6. Gerard Maral, Michel Bousquet, Zhili Sun, Satellite Communications Systems: Systems, Techniques and Technology, 5th Edition, ISBN: 978-0-470-71458-4, December 2009.

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