Non-Terrestrial Network Architecture and Key Technologies for Civil Aviation
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摘要: 面向全球覆盖、高速移动、低延迟、高可靠的民用航空通信需求,近些年来正在蓬勃发展的非地面网络(Non-Terrestrial Networks, NTN)显得愈加重要。在此背景下,本文回顾了面向民用航空的NTN技术发展历程,并追踪了国内外对民航NTN网络技术研究的最新动态。为了实现NTN网络更好服务我国民用航空这一美好愿景,本文分别介绍了NTN网络中的组网架构,接入和移动性管理以及新型资源管控等关键技术。首先建立了以低轨卫星与高空平台为枢纽的按需隔离的NTN组网框架,随后提出了以星历图为表征的接入和移动性管理技术,最后针对新型智能衍生的算存资源提出了面向民用航空的NTN网络资源管控方案。最后,本文也对面向民用航空的NTN网络关键技术的未来发展提出了展望。Abstract:
Significance Currently, civil aviation communications rely heavily on terrestrial base stations and narrowband satellite communications. This setup not only leaves significant coverage blind spots in scenarios like remote airspace, transoceanic routes, and polar flights—failing to meet the high-reliability requirements of core operations such as real-time flight monitoring and engine health data transmission—but also suffers from pain points including bandwidth constraints, poor passenger connectivity experience, and insufficient communication resilience in emergency scenarios. Progress In this context, we review the evolution of NTN technologies in the civil aviation sector and track the latest research progress worldwide and domestically on civil aviation NTN networks, including network frameworks, mobility management, and resource management. To enable NTN networks to better serve the civil aviation, we approach the topic from three perspectives—network frameworks, mobility management, and resource management—introducing key technologies in network architecture, access and mobility management, and novel resource control mechanisms within NTN systems. Conclusions For civil aviation, NTN can not only completely fill the coverage gaps of terrestrial communications, but also balance high-speed passenger connectivity with efficient transmission of airline operational data, enhancing the industry’s operational efficiency and service quality. It lays a technical foundation for cutting-edge scenarios like future air-space integrated transportation and civil aviation unmanned aerial vehicle networking, serving as a key enabler to address civil aviation’s communication challenges and drive the industry’s upgrade toward greater safety, efficiency, and intelligence. Prospects With the continuous advancement of key technologies such as networking architecture design, mobility management, and resource management, the proposed solutions are expected to offer more efficient, stable, and intelligent communication support for the civil aviation industry. In the long term, such NTN-enabled communication frameworks will play an essential role in supporting the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of civil aviation operations. -
Key words:
- Civil aviation /
- non-terrestrial networks /
- network slicing /
- mobility management /
- resource scheduling
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表 1 本文缩略词汇总表
缩略词 英文全称 中文全称 AOC Airline Operational Control 航空公司运行控制 APC Airline Passenger Communication 航空乘客通信 ATC Air Traffic Control 空中交通管制 ATG Air-to-Ground 空对地 ATM Air Traffic Management 航空交通管理 COO Computing-on-Orbit 在轨计算 GEO Geostationary Orbit 地球静止轨道 GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System 全球导航卫星系统 HAPS High Altitude Platform Station 高空平台 IFE In-Flight Entertainment 机上娱乐 ISL Inter-Satellite Link 星间链路 LEO Low Earth Orbit 低地球轨道 MEC Mobile Edge Computing 移动边缘计算 MEO Medium-Earth Orbit 中地球轨道 NDN Named Data Networking 命名数据网络 NTN Non-Terrestrial Networks 非地面网络 PIT Pending Interest Table 待处理兴趣表 QoS Quality of Service 服务质量 UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 无人机 VLEO Very Low Earth Orbit 极低地球轨道 eVTOL Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing 电动垂直起降飞行器 -
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