Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for implementing secure and remote location identification for UAVs and other aerial vehicles. A system for tracking the location of one or more UAVs flying within a given geographic area includes one or more ground-based transceivers that are distributed throughout the geographic area. Each transceiver is communicatively coupled to a common controller that is configured to coordinate operation of the system. The common controller causes each of the ground-based transceivers to transmit an interrogation signal that is received by one or more aircraft flying within the geographic coverage area of the system. The interrogation signal includes transmit control information that the aircraft must comply with when sending a response signal to the ground-based transceivers. Compliance with the transmit control information is used to authenticate the aircraft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a multistatic radar system that is configured to detect airborne objects without the need for a transponder on the aircraft. The multistatic radar can be implemented using preexisting communications infrastructure associated with various networks such as paging networks. The multistatic radar system can be implemented using a plurality of multistatic communications links (e.g., transmitters that are communicatively coupled to a plurality of receivers). The distribution of transmitters and receivers in the network can be based on the RF conditions of the coverage area of the network. The multistatic radar network can produce one or more deterministic waveforms that provide the network with signal diversity needed for accurate detection, localization, and tracking of airborne assets.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terrestrial to air communications network that can be configured to include a spectrum management system that deterministically allocates spectrum to aircraft for use during flight. In one or more examples, a user transmits a flight plan to a spectrum management system that is configured to manage the RF spectrum in a given air space. In one or more examples, and based on the received flight plan, the spectrum management system can allocate an RF spectrum frequency “slot” (i.e., timeslot, subchannel, or resource block) for the aircraft to use during its intended flight. The spectrum management system can take into account available spectrum as well as the predicted network traffic and their spectrum allocations to determine an RF spectrum slot that can provide a stable and continuous communications channel to the aircraft during its flight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terrestrial to air communications network that can be configured to include a spectrum management system that deterministically allocates spectrum to aircraft for use during flight. In one or more examples, a user transmits a flight plan to a spectrum management system that is configured to manage the RF spectrum in a given air space. In one or more examples, and based on the received flight plan, the spectrum management system can allocate an RF spectrum frequency “slot” (i.e., timeslot, subchannel, or resource block) for the aircraft to use during its intended flight. The spectrum management system can take into account available spectrum as well as the predicted network traffic and their spectrum allocations to determine an RF spectrum slot that can provide a stable and continuous communications channel to the aircraft during its flight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terrestrial to air communications network that can be configured to include a spectrum management system that deterministically allocates spectrum to aircraft for use during flight. In one or more examples, a user transmits a flight plan to a spectrum management system that is configured to manage the RF spectrum in a given air space. In one or more examples, and based on the received flight plan, the spectrum management system can allocate an RF spectrum frequency “slot” (i.e., timeslot, subchannel, or resource block) for the aircraft to use during its intended flight. The spectrum management system can take into account available spectrum as well as the predicted network traffic and their spectrum allocations to determine an RF spectrum slot that can provide a stable and continuous communications channel to the aircraft during its flight.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for assigning and managing RF communication links between ground-based stations and airborne assets. In one or more examples, a pilot or other user of the systems and methods described herein can generate and transmit a flight plan to a spectrum management system. Additionally, or alternatively, the pilot or use can also transmit additional information to the spectrum management system such as the type of aircraft/radio configuration that they will be using during a flight, and a request for a certain amount of data throughput that they want to have access to during the flight. In one or more examples, upon receiving the flight plan and/or information from the pilot, the spectrum management system can proceed to match the user's desired flight plan with one or more RF spectrum resources for the airborne radio of the pilot's UAV to use during their planned flight.

Abstract: Presented herein are system and methods for implementing a flight plan initiated beam/null forming antenna. According to an aspect, a terrestrial (i.e., ground) to air communications network can include a beam/null steering antenna that can be configured to operate in conjunction with a spectrum management system to provide one or more communications links between an airborne radio and a ground-based operator. The beam/null steering antenna can also receive the flight plans of aircraft using the system from the spectrum management system. In one or more examples, the beam/null steering antenna can use the flight plan information provided the spectrum management system to determine if a signal received at the antenna is a known desired signal, a known undesired signal, or an unknown undesired signal. In one or more examples the antenna can be configured to direct a beam or null at a particular signal based on the determination.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for implementing air traffic control (ATC) voice communications over a digital aviation network, which allows one or more pilots on the ground to communicate with ATC controllers while piloting a UAS transiting the airspace of a particular ATC voice station. In one or more examples, a spectrum management system (or the ATC voice controller using information received from the spectrum management system) may designate a relay aircraft to relay very high frequency (VHF) ATC voice to operators/pilots on the aviation network. In one or more examples, upon initiation of voice communications by ATC to all UAS and other aircraft in a VHF service area or sector, the ATC analog voice message may be received by a VHF radio on the relay aircraft. In one or more examples, the relay aircraft may then relay the digital message to the ATC voice processor and/or base station.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for operating a flight plan based distributed ledger system implemented on an aviation communications network. According to an aspect, data associated with communication transmissions occurring between communications elements of the aviation communications network may be recorded on the distributed ledger system. The communications elements involved in the distributed ledger system may be determined using a received flight plan. The flight plan information may be used to initialize the ledger information at each communications element involved in the distributed ledger system. The distributed ledger system may be updated to add or remove communications elements if the flight deviates from the original flight plan. After the flight plan is executed, the distributed ledger system may inactivate the ledger and store the ledger information in a centralized repository.

Abstract: Presented herein are system and methods for implementing a flight plan initiated beam/null forming antenna. According to an aspect, a terrestrial (i.e., ground) to air communications network can include a beam/null steering antenna that can be configured to operate in conjunction with a spectrum management system to provide one or more communications links between an airborne radio and a ground-based operator. The beam/null steering antenna can also receive the flight plans of aircraft using the system from the spectrum management system. In one or more examples, the beam/null steering antenna can use the flight plan information provided the spectrum management system to determine if a signal received at the antenna is a known desired signal, a known undesired signal, or an unknown undesired signal. In one or more examples the antenna can be configured to direct a beam or null at a particular signal based on the determination.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a terrestrial to air communications network that can be configured to include a spectrum management system that deterministically allocates spectrum to aircraft for use during flight. In one or more examples, a user transmits a flight plan to a spectrum management system that is configured to manage the RF spectrum in a given air space. In one or more examples, and based on the received flight plan, the spectrum management system can allocate an RF spectrum frequency “slot” (i.e., timeslot, subchannel, or resource block) for the aircraft to use during its intended flight. The spectrum management system can take into account available spectrum as well as the predicted network traffic and their spectrum allocations to determine an RF spectrum slot that can provide a stable and continuous communications channel to the aircraft during its flight.