A report proposes a method of cooperative modulation between (1) low-power radio transceivers associated with sensors geographically dispersed on a remote planet for relaying information between the sensors and an Earth station. The method, denoted node selection on orthogonal channels (NSOC), would make it unnecessary to include an additional, intermediate-power base station on the planet to effect long-distance communication with the orbiting transceiver.
This work was done by Kevin Quirk, Meera Srinivasan, and Jonathan Agre of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. To obtain a copy of the report, "Cooperative Communication Using Node Selection, Orthogonal Channels," access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.nasatech.com/tsp under the Electronics & Computers category.
NPO-30177
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Cooperative Communication by Low-Power Radio Transmitters
(reference NPO-30177) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document presents a technical report on a novel method for cooperative communication using low-power radio transmitters, developed by researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The primary focus of the report is on a technique called Node Selection on Orthogonal Channels (NSOC), which is designed to facilitate efficient communication between sensors deployed on a remote planet and an Earth station.
In traditional communication systems, a base station with intermediate power is often required to relay information over long distances. However, the NSOC method eliminates the need for such a base station by allowing low-power radio transceivers associated with geographically dispersed sensors to communicate directly among themselves. This local communication enables the sensors, referred to as nodes, to share information and synchronize their operations for cooperative modulation with an orbiting transceiver.
The process works by having the sensor nodes collectively transmit messages based on shared information. Each node communicates with others at a significantly lower power level than what would be required for direct communication with the orbiting transceiver. Once the information is shared locally, the nodes cooperatively transmit a message by selecting one node to send an additional bit over its unique orthogonal channel. This method not only conveys information through the transmitted bit but also through the selected transmission channel, resulting in enhanced energy efficiency compared to using a single transmitter.
The report emphasizes the potential applications of this technology in space exploration, where energy efficiency is crucial due to the limitations of power sources on remote planets. By reducing the power demand for communication, the NSOC method could significantly improve the viability of long-term sensor networks on extraterrestrial bodies.
The work was conducted by Kevin Quirk, Meera Srinivasan, and Jonathan Agre, and is part of a broader effort by NASA to advance communication technologies for space missions. The document also includes a disclaimer stating that references to specific commercial products or services do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or JPL.
Overall, this report highlights a significant advancement in communication technology that could enhance the capabilities of future space missions, enabling more efficient data transmission from remote planetary environments back to Earth.
