The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has lengthy been deeply and efficiently engaged within the discipline of area know-how. The University’s Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering has developed Hong Kong’s first low-Earth-orbit (LEO) communication-navigation built-in satellite tv for pc payload “LEO CNAV”, which was just lately efficiently launched aboard the Yuxing-3 No. 05 satellite tv for pc (also called “Tech-Innovation-1”) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu. The launch of the satellite tv for pc payload, which is able to bear in-orbit testing, marks a historic milestone for PolyU in satellite tv for pc know-how and area purposes.
This yr marks the primary yr of the Nation’s “15th Five-Year Plan”. The nation is accelerating the cultivation of recent high quality productive forces by means of innovation and know-how, creating huge development potential for aerospace know-how and associated industries. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region can also be actively selling aerospace science and know-how growth and supporting the area economic system. This communication-navigation built-in breakthrough by PolyU highlights Hong Kong’s main place in home-grown area know-how and brings contemporary momentum to the event of sensible cities and the low-altitude economic system.
Dr WANG Tianqi, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering and person-in-charge of system integration and testing, mentioned, “From conceptual design and R&D testing to in-orbit operations, LEO CNAV has been developed entirely in-house by the PolyU team, opening a new chapter for independent satellite payload development by local universities. This experience has enabled our team to fully master the end-to-end payload development process, laying a solid foundation for the design of more advanced systems in the future.”
LEO CNAV options 4 main technological benefits—purposeful integration, high-precision positioning, low-cost deployment and broad utility potential—offering complete assist for future sensible metropolis infrastructure. In phrases of purposeful integration, historically, communication and navigation depend on two separate methods working independently. LEO CNAV removes this limitation by offering communication, navigation and timing providers on a single platform. In future, customers will solely want one receiver to acquire each capabilities concurrently, significantly simplifying system design. This breakthrough innovation has gained worldwide recognition, being awarded a Gold Medal on the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. The analysis crew has additionally filed patent purposes for the associated core applied sciences.
For positioning, LEO CNAV can be utilized along with current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) comparable to GPS to reinforce positioning accuracy in dense city environments with high-rise buildings. Traditional GPS satellites function at an altitude of about 20,000 km, leading to comparatively weak indicators which might be weak to interference or “spoofing attacks”, posing security dangers for autonomous driving and unmanned aerial automobiles. Operating in low Earth orbit at only some hundred kilometres above floor, LEO CNAV supplies a lot stronger indicators. Combined with a uniquely designed sign scheme developed by the crew, it successfully resists interference and spoofing, enabling extremely correct navigation for sensible mobility and associated purposes.
LEO CNAV is designed with business area wants in thoughts. The payload consumes solely about 23 watts of energy, which is lower than the facility drawn by a typical cell phone charger, and is compact in measurement, making it appropriate for nano-satellites and different small satellite tv for pc platforms. Its modular design permits it to “ride-share” on numerous business satellites, requiring solely about 30 watts of energy and fundamental interfaces for deployment. By utilizing business off-the-shelf elements and {hardware} cost-control methods, the crew has considerably managed launch prices, laying the groundwork for future large-scale constellation deployment.
LEO CNAV represents a significant breakthrough in positioning and navigation applied sciences and might be extensively utilized in sensible metropolis and low-altitude economic system situations. Potential purposes embody enabling lane-level positioning for autonomous automobiles, offering exact navigation for UAV logistics and concrete air mobility, and supporting city infrastructure monitoring and emergency dispatch. LEO CNAV payload designer Prof. XU Bing, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, mentioned, “Low-Earth-orbit navigation and integrated space–ground communication-navigation systems are the future direction for global space information infrastructure. Through the satellite technology accumulated from the LEO CNAV project, we hope in the longer term to support Internet of Things (IoT) interconnectivity and the deployment of integrated space–air–ground 6G networks, helping the Greater Bay Area build a world-class cluster of smart cities.”
Looking forward, the crew plans to launch further satellites carrying LEO CNAV to steadily construct a LEO constellation community that may assist the upgrading of sensible transportation. Project chief Prof. WEN Chih-yung, Chair Professor of Aeronautical Engineering of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, mentioned, “The successful launch of LEO CNAV marks a new chapter for PolyU. We will continue to advance innovation in space technology, nurture talent and broaden international collaboration, contributing to the development of Hong Kong’s commercial space sector and technological advancement in the Greater Bay Area.”
In parallel with driving area analysis and growth, PolyU can also be dedicated to expertise cultivation. This yr, with a view to nurturing a brand new technology of pros for the aerospace sector in Hong Kong and all over the world, the University has launched Hong Kong’s first Master of Science in Satellite Engineering programme, masking areas comparable to satellite tv for pc orbital dynamics, spacecraft methods, payload design and the rising “New Space” economic system.