Provides an introduction to High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) technology and its applications for wireless communications High-altitude platform stations offer a promising new technology that combines the benefits of terrestrial and satellite communication systems for delivering broadband communications to users at a low cost. They are easily deployable and easy to maintain, which is why they offer a good alternative for network operators who need to find ways to get more coverage to satisfy the increasing demand for more capacity. HAPS are usually balloons, airships or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) located in the stratosphere. An enormous interest has grown worldwide to examine their use not only for broadband communications, but also for emergency services, navigation, traffic monitoring, cellular, etc. Key features include: * Unique book focusing on emerging HAPS technology and its applications * Provides a thorough overview of the technology including HAPS-based communications systems, antennas for HAPS, radio propagation and channel modelling issues and HAPS networking aspects * Presents various HAPS-related projects and initiatives developed throughout the world (North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific) * Features a comprehensive overview on both aeronautical and telecommunications regulatory aspects, which will affect the deployment and future developments in the field of HAPS High-Altitude Platform Systems for Wireless Communications will prove essential reading for postgraduate students in the field of HAPS, engineers, developers and designers involved in the design and maintenance of HAPS, aerospace engineers, and communications system planners and researchers.

Leseprobe

Contents Preface 1 Introduction 1.1 WHAT IS A HAPS? 1.2 STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK REFERENCES 2 Overview on HAPS 2.1 HAPS SYSTEM CONCEPTS 2.2 RADIO REGULATIONS FOR HAPS 2.3 APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES 2.4 HAPS NETWORKS 2.5 TERRESTRIAL, SATELLITE AND STRATOSPHERIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS: A COMPARISON 2.6 SURVEY OF THE EVOLUTION AND STATE-OF-THE ART OF HAPS IN THE WORLD REFERENCES 3 Propagation and Channel Modelling 3.1 INTRODUCTION 3.2 AN OVERVIEW TO PROPAGATION PHENOMENA 3.3 CHANNEL MODELLING 3.4 FADING MITIGATION TECHNIQUES 3.5 CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES 4 Antennas for HAPS 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4.2 ANTENNA REQUIREMENTS 4.3 ANTENNA TYPES FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE PLATFORMS 4.4 ANTENNA DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS AT OPERATING FREQUENCIES ALLOCATED TO HAPS 4.5 STEERING MECHANISMS 4.6 BEAMFORMING 4.7 CHALLENGES REFERENCES 5 Communication systems based on HAPS 5.1 COMPONENTS OF HAPS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 5.2 SPECTRUM ALLOCATION FOR HAPS 5.3 HAPS LINK BUDGET 5.4 CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES 6 HAPS networks 6.1 INTRODUCTION 6.2 NETWORK TOPOLOGIES 6.3 NETWORK ARCHITECTURES FOR SERVICE CANDIDATES 6.4 INTERWORKING REQUIREMENTS 6.5 HAPS NETWORKS FOR OTHER APPLICATIONS 6.6 FREE-SPACE OPTICAL LINKS 6.7 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 6.8 HAPS AS PART OF INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION NETWORKS REFERENCES 7 The future 7.1 INTRODUCTION 7.2 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CIVIL UAS 7.3 APPLICATIONS FOR CIVIL UAS 7.4 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CIVIL UAS 7.5 TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS 7.6 TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES FOR HAPS APPLIED TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 7.7 CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES