Future Lunar surface comms using Cognitive 3gpp Radio Access Networks for Ubiquitous Mission success (FULCRUM)

AiRANACULUS, a developer of NASA sponsored CLAIRE and INSPiRE technologies, along with, Reed Engineering (Prof. Jeff Reed, Virginia Tech, IEEE Fellow and Dr. Nishith Tripathi, IAB/NTN experts) and Prof. Ricardo Lent (DTN Expert, U. of Houston) propose Future Lunar comms architecture using Cognitive 3gpp Radio Access Networks for Ubiquitous Mission success (FULCRUM), that provides cognitive delay tolerant Networking leveraging disparate technologies such as 4G / 5G / 5G-NTN, Wi-Fi, and Legacy NASA Radios. This enables resilient communications and reduces the probability of outage. Shackleton crater on the Lunar South Pole has an area of approximately 346 Sq. km. NASA astronauts may perform variety of activities within that area ranging from descent, docking, exploration, mining, scientific experiments, astronomy etc. It is imperative to provide pervasive connectivity to NASA astronauts and support their missions. Due to the challenging terrain even within the Shackleton crater, providing outage free communications is extremely challenging. Coverage may be expanded by using more 4G/5G Base Stations / gNodeBs (gNBs). However, providing optical fiber backhaul connectivity to various gNodeBs is extremely challenging. 3GPP specified Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) can significantly help in expanding 4G/5G deployment on the Lunar surface. During Phase II, FULCRUM will focus on design, development, implementation and prototyping of IAB and NTN capabilities to expand the 4G/5G coverage on the Lunar surface. FULCRUM will reduce the mission and network operations burden, increase mission science data return, improve resource efficiencies for NASA missions and communication networks, reduce power consumption, and ensure resilience in the unpredictable space environment. FULCRUM will be enhanced by the NASA sponsored CLAIRE and INSPiRE technologies, which are protocol agnostic and provide heterogeneous multi-vendor network optimization.

1. FULCRUM leverages 3GPP constructs such as Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) to ensure pervasive connectivity on Lunar Surface. Phase I simulations show substantial improvements in Signal to Noise Ratios (SNRs), Throughputs and Outage across the challenging Lunar Surface using FULCRUM vs Traditional 4G/5G Networks. 2. FULCRUM leverages IAB that enables network scaling without the need to lay optical fibers for backhaul on the Lunar surface. IAB leverages the spectral efficiencies of New Radio (NR) and the increased capacity available in 5G that is perfect for Lunar environment. 3. FULCRUM uses of mature 5G O-RAN technology based on 3GPP Release 17 and 18 that provides seamless connectivity for Lunar surface and Lunar Proximity links through flexible and efficient COTS network architecture utilizing IAB and NTN through software enhancements. This enables NASA to leverage commercial open solutions that can scale. 4. FULCRUM leverages NASA INSPiRE’ s Network Slicing over a heterogeneous wireless network which allows NASA to maintain Quality of Service (QoS) for a wide variety of application in challenging scenarios. It maintains QoS over 3GPP and Non 3GPP technologies and provides 10x improvement in communications quality in presence of interference and congestion using policy-based packet prioritization and dynamic routing. 5. FULCRUM provides HDTN Optimization through accurate contact plan and capacity estimations provided by INSPiRE and CLAIRE, which enable robust and efficient communication pathways using optimal DTN overlay routing on 3GPP networks utilizing IAB and NTN. 6. INSPiRE and CLAIRE provide interference mitigation and congestion control for ANY radio and network. They provide variety of interference mitigation and congestion control techniques such as Dynamic Spectrum and Bandwidth Adaptation, Multipath Routing, Traffic Shaping, Spectrum Aware Packet Forwarding etc. AiRANACULUS' motto is Intelligent RF and Networking from Space to Smart Cities. This effort falls within AiRANACULUS’ s general strategy to make ALL radios robust and resilient to interference and congestion using state-of-the-art signal processing, and machine learning based Products. FULCRUM Architecture and capabilities are applicable to: 1. Advanced communications systems such as 5G and 6G New Radio Architectures and make them interference and congestion tolerant. FULCRUM has a fantastic potential for the private network market for 5G and 6G. The total 5G market is expected to climb to nearly $665 billion by 2028. FULCRUM capabilities are applicable to ALL commercial Terrestrial (3G/ 4G/ 5G / Wi-Fi), Space (LEO/ MEO / GEO/ Relays / Gateways) Networks which leverage commercial heterogeneous networks. 2. DoD Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2):- FULCRUM provides mesh networking through Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB), which is essential for DoD radios and networks to scale. FULCRUM leverages Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) which provides alternate pathways for DoD information to flow. These features are critical to enable JADC2. 3. Resilient Wireless Communications – FULCRUM, CLAIRE and INSPIRE makes any Radio Cognitive / Intelligent through RF and Cross Layer sensing which enables root cause analysis of the interference and network congestion. Application Layer Cognitive Control Plane enables radio and technology agnostic Command and Control (C2) which will fulfill the needs of JADC2. FULCRUM provides wide variety of interference and congestion mitigation techniques that ensures that most critical data is delivered to the warfighters when they need it. The Network Slicing aspects, allowing tailorable qualities of experiences for heterogeneous networks sharing common communications channels, is also somewhat unique. AiRANACULUS is also working with the Army to make its radios and networks robust and resilient to interference and congestion.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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