New Frontiers in Space Communications

正在出现对新的空间网络基础设施的需求，以消除目前地面网络的瓶颈，并在全球范围内提供服务。SNS被设想为基于各种空间平台的多层综合网络，包括低地球轨道卫星。在其他SN元素(轨道器、着陆器、火星车，甚至机组人员)的支持下，SN愿景的范围超出了地面连接。这一教席旨在开发安全和强大的通信技术，以促进SNS充分发挥其潜力。计划了3个主要目标(O)；O1-设计SNS以提供全球接入平等：将提出利用现有用户终端连接SNS的创新解决方案，最终目标是开发能够连接未连接的离网社区的网络结构。O2-为稳健、可持续和安全的SNS设计创新服务：将探讨SNS在提供新型天基服务方面的作用。具有通信、计算、缓存、传感、定位和能量传输/采集能力的多功能多频段收发机将首次被用于SN条件。03-自主无线电资源管理(RRM)框架的设计：将开发一个机器学习(ML)辅助的本地RRM框架，以通过分布式决策实现SNS的自主配置。在围绕月球和其他行星运行的多用途前哨计划时代，教席将既解决全球准入平等问题，又探索空间通信的新领域。最先进的理论研究将得到仿真和实验的支持，以证明所提出的方法的可行性。通过加强地球连接，引入创新的基于SN的服务，以及开发用于安全可靠通信的自主无线电资源管理(RRM)框架，拟议的变革性研究计划旨在为以公平和可访问的方式扩展人类的视野铺平道路。开发的多功能SNS具有ML辅助的自主RRM，不仅将满足目前对稳健和安全通信的需求，而且还将根据加拿大对空间部门的坚定承诺的创新和技能计划，为SN行业铺平道路。

There is an emerging demand for new space network (SN) infrastructures to eliminate bottlenecks of the current terrestrial networks and to provide services on a global scale. SNs are envisioned as multi-layer integrated networks based on various space platforms, including low Earth orbit satellites. Supported by additional SN elements (orbiters, landers, rovers, and even crew members), the scope of the SN vision extends beyond terrestrial connectivity. This Chair aims at developing secure and robust communication technologies to foster the development of SNs to their full potential. 3 main objectives (O) are planned;O1-Design of SNs to provide global access equality: Innovative solutions to connect the SNs utilizing the existing user terminals will be proposed with the ultimate objective of developing a network architecture that can connect the unconnected off-grid communities.O2-Design of innovative services for robust, sustainable, and secure SNs: The role of SNs in providing novel space-based services will be explored. The emerging paradigm of multi-function multi-band transceivers, which are capable of communication, computation, caching, sensing, localization, and energy transfer/harvesting capabilities, will be adopted for the SN conditions for the first time. O3-Design of an autonomous radio resource management (RRM) framework: A machine learning (ML) assisted native RRM framework will be developed to enable autonomous configuration of SNs by distributed decision making. In the era of multi-purpose outpost plans orbiting the Moon and other planets, the Chair will both address global access equality problems and explore new frontiers in space communications. The state-of-the-art theoretical research will be supported by simulations and experimentation to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approaches. By bolstering the Earth connectivity, introducing innovative SN-based services, and developing an autonomous radio resource management (RRM) framework for secure and reliable communications, the proposed transformative research program aims at paving the way toward extending the horizon of humanity in an equitable and accessible manner. The developed multi-functional SNs, with an ML-assisted autonomic RRM, will not only address the current need for robust and secure communication but also pave the way for the SN industry, in line with the Innovation and Skills Plan of Canada's strong commitment to the space sector.