Air-Ground Collaborative Mobile Edge Computing:Architecture,Challenges,and Opportunities

By pushing computation,cache,and network control to the edge,mobile edge computing(MEC)is expected to play a leading role in fifth generation(5G)and future sixth generation(6G).Nevertheless,facing ubiquitous fast-growing computational demands,it is impossible for a single MEC paradigm to effectively support high-quality intelligent services at end user equipments(UEs).To address this issue,we propose an air-ground collaborative MEC(AGCMEC)architecture in this article.The proposed AGCMEC integrates all potentially available MEC servers within air and ground in the envisioned 6G,by a variety of collaborative ways to provide computation services at their best for UEs.Firstly,we introduce the AGC-MEC architecture and elaborate three typical use cases.Then,we discuss four main challenges in the AGC-MEC as well as their potential solutions.Next,we conduct a case study of collaborative service placement for AGC-MEC to validate the effectiveness of the proposed collaborative service placement strategy.Finally,we highlight several potential research directions of the AGC-MEC.

Optimized air-ground data fusion method for mine slope modeling

Refined 3D modeling of mine slopes is pivotal for precise prediction of geological hazards.Aiming at the inadequacy of existing single modeling methods in comprehensively representing the overall and localized characteristics of mining slopes,this study introduces a new method that fuses model data from Unmanned aerial vehicles(UAV)tilt photogrammetry and 3D laser scanning through a data alignment algorithm based on control points.First,the mini batch K-Medoids algorithm is utilized to cluster the point cloud data from ground 3D laser scanning.Then,the elbow rule is applied to determine the optimal cluster number(K0),and the feature points are extracted.Next,the nearest neighbor point algorithm is employed to match the feature points obtained from UAV tilt photogrammetry,and the internal point coordinates are adjusted through the distanceweighted average to construct a 3D model.Finally,by integrating an engineering case study,the K0 value is determined to be 8,with a matching accuracy between the two model datasets ranging from 0.0669 to 1.0373 mm.Therefore,compared with the modeling method utilizing K-medoids clustering algorithm,the new modeling method significantly enhances the computational efficiency,the accuracy of selecting the optimal number of feature points in 3D laser scanning,and the precision of the 3D model derived from UAV tilt photogrammetry.This method provides a research foundation for constructing mine slope model.

Green Air-Ground Integrated Heterogeneous Network in 6G Era

The research of three-dimensional integrated communication technology plays a key role in achieving the ubiquitous connectivity,ultra-high data rates,and emergency communications in the sixth generation(6G)networks.Aerial networking provides a prom⁃ising solution to flexible,scalable,low-cost and reliable coverage for wireless devices.The integration of aerial network and terrestrial network has been an inevitable paradigm in the 6G era.However,energy-efficient communications and networking among aerial net⁃work and terrestrial network face great challenges.This paper is dedicated to discussing green communications of the air-ground integrated heterogeneous network(AGIHN).We first provide a brief introduction to the characteristics of AGIHN in 6G networks.Further,we analyze the challenges of green AGIHN from the aspects of green terrestrial networks and green aerial networks.Finally,several solutions to and key technologies of the green AGIHN are discussed.

Self-organizing strategy design and validation forintegrated air-ground detection swarm

A self-organized integrated air-ground detection swarmis tentatively applied to achieve reentry vehicle landing detection,such as searching and rescuing a manned spaceship. The detectionswarm consists of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles （UAVs）and unmanned ground vehicles （UGVs）. The UAVs can accessa detected object quickly for high mobility, while the UGVs cancomprehensively investigate the object due to the variety of carriedequipment. In addition, the integrated air-ground detectionswarm is capable of detecting from the ground and the air simultaneously.To accomplish the coordination of the UGVs andUAVs, they are all regarded as individuals of the artificial swarm.Those individuals make control decisions independently of othersbased on the self-organizing strategy. The overall requirements forthe detection swarm are analyzed, and the theoretical model ofthe self-organizing strategy based on a combined individual andenvironmental virtual function is established. The numerical investigationproves that the self-organizing strategy is suitable andscalable to control the detection swarm. To further inspect the engineeringreliability, an experiment set is established in laboratory,and the experimental demonstration shows that the self-organizingstrategy drives the detection swarm forming a close range and multiangularsurveillance configuration of a landing spot.

FACT:An Air-Ground Communication Framework for Seeding Quality Control of Aircraft

A new type of air-ground communication application framework named FACT(framework for air-ground communication technology with weather-modification aircraft)is presented to track and command weather-modification aircraft to perform ideal cloud seeding.FACT provides a set of solutions from three perspectives,namely,onboard,onground and air-to-ground,with the core purpose of solving the problems of the rapid exchange of information,contract analysis and identifying potential seeding areas when flight plans and meteorological conditions change.On board,the observed data are processed centrally and transmitted downward through air-to-ground communication.The real-time application and sharing of aircraft detection data are strengthened on the ground,and potential areas of operation are automatically identified based on ground data.The communication between the air and the ground achieves a technical breakthrough by realizing double satellite links,adaptive data transmission and VPN channel encryption.Additionally,an application based on FACT is designed and implemented for the real-time command of weather-modified aircraft.This approach has become the key air-to-ground communication system support for more than 40 Chinese aircraft and the big data service support center of airborne data to ensure improved operation of weather-modification aircraft in China.

Air-Ground Temperature Coupling: Analysis by Means of Thermal Orbits

Long-term measurements of air, near-surface (soil) and ground temperatures that were collected between 1994 and 2013 at the drill site of the Geothermal Climate Change Observatory (Prague) were analyzed to understand the relationship between these variables and to reveal the mechanisms of heat transport at the land-atmosphere boundary layer. The 2D Thermal Orbit (TO) method was applied to detect regularities that were hidden in noisy and highly variable temperature time series. The results showed that the temperatures at shallow depths were affected by surface air temperature (SAT) variations on seasonal and annual time scales and could be regarded as an accurate proxy for low frequency temperature variations at the Earth’s surface. Only low-frequency/ high-amplitude surface temperature variations penetrate into the subsurface because of strong damping and the filtering effect of the ground surface. The borehole temperatures have good potential to capture temperature variations (periodicities) over long time scales that cannot be detected in the SAT series themselves because of the interference of higher frequency noise. The TO technique is a useful and powerful tool to quickly obtain diagnostics of the presence of long periodicities in borehole temperature time series.

面向密集场景的空天地网络资源分配算法

空天地网络具有覆盖范围大、吞吐量高、弹性强等优点。该文针对大量用户并发接入、网络负载不均衡所引发的网络拥塞、服务质量恶化等问题,提出一种面向密集场景的资源分配算法。首先以用户需求为中心,根据不同类型用户任务的偏好来构建用户效用函数,然后基于匹配博弈的网络选择算法和结合对偶上升法的功率控制算法来实现负载均衡,优化资源分配方案。实验表明,相较于传统策略,所提策略整体用户接入率至少提高35%,时延和吞吐量方面性能提升超过50%;在密集场景下,能更有效地均衡负载,提升网络性能。

空地协同通信感知一体化系统的轨迹与资源分配联合优化

该文研究空地协同通信感知一体化系统,其中无人车(UGV)基站和无人机(UAV)中继集群组成空地协同网络,为用户提供通信服务,同时对目标区域进行探测感知。在更加准确的莱斯衰落信道模型下,研究联合优化无人机集群的通信感知关联、发射功率和飞行轨迹以及无人车基站的发射功率和行进轨迹,在目标区域感知频率和有效感知功率阈值的约束下,最大化用户最小平均通信速率。为了解决变量高度耦合且非凸的整数优化问题,首先利用块坐标下降法将原问题分解成4个子问题;接着引入松弛变量并将整数约束转化为惩罚项,然后证明莱斯信道下的有效感知功率是关于轨迹变量和松弛变量凸复合函数的联合凸函数;再利用连续凸优化法处理非凸项,并提出一种双层迭代算法高效求解次优解。仿真结果表明,与几种基准方案相比,所提优化算法在相同感知性能下,提高了用户最小平均通信速率,更好地实现了通信与感知性能之间的权衡,并具有良好的收敛性。

面向月球科研站任务的地月准实时遥操作模拟验证系统设计与关键技术研究

针对月球科研站任务地月遥操作需求和特点,设计地月准实时遥操作模拟验证系统,对其中的关键技术海量多尺度遥感数据环境感知、空地协同高精度定位、基于混合现实的预测仿真等进行了研究。提出了基于海量多尺度遥感数据的联合处理方法,环境感知数据融合可处理米级至厘米级环境感知结果;设计基于空地多运动平台协同定位的原型软件,空地协同地标约束下,定位精度不低于轨道器影像1个像素;开发了带有力觉反馈的预测仿真验证平台,在2~3 s变时延约束下可在仿真环境下协同演示遥操作过程,真实还原从端的遥操作作业场景,提高遥操作的执行效率和安全性。为地面人员的方案设计、操作手训练、故障处置等提供实时支持,为我国未来实施月球科研站任务筑牢基础。

面向6G全域融合的智能接入关键技术综述

针对空天地一体化接入网络,该文在总结相关研究的基础上,阐述了未来空天地一体化接入架构的关键技术,分析了空口技术、多址技术、干扰分析、计算技术和人工智能(AI)技术等几个重点方向的研究进展,提出了多种接入形式并存的灵活性网络架构。针对6G全域融合网络接入的重点研究问题,结合用户的服务质量需求,构建了一体化AI赋能架构,提出了大规模混合多址接入及弹性资源适配策略。基于网络架构立体化、网络协同传输、一体化网络资源管理、未来空天地接入技术以及网络协同计算等未来重点研究方向进行了讨论和展望。

基于深度强化学习的空天地一体化网络资源分配算法

空天地一体化网络(SAGIN)通过提高地面网络的资源利用率可以有效满足多种业务类型的通信需求,然而忽略了系统的自适应能力和鲁棒性及不同用户的服务质量(QoS)。针对这一问题,该文提出在空天地一体化网络架构下,面向城区和郊区通信的深度强化学习(DRL)资源分配算法。基于第3代合作伙伴计划(3GPP)标准中定义的用户参考信号接收功率(RSRP),考虑地面同频干扰情况,以不同域中基站的时频资源作为约束条件,构建了最大化系统用户的下行吞吐量优化问题。利用深度Q网络(DQN)算法求解该优化问题时,定义了能够综合考虑用户服务质量需求、系统自适应能力及系统鲁棒性的奖励函数。仿真结果表明,综合考虑无人驾驶汽车,沉浸式服务及普通移动终端通信业务需求时,表征系统性能的奖励函数值在2 000次迭代下,相较于贪婪算法提升了39.1%;对于无人驾驶汽车业务,利用DQN算法进行资源分配后,相比于贪婪算法,丢包数平均下降38.07%,时延下降了6.05%。

铁路地质灾害勘察识别与监测预警

地质灾害对铁路建设、安全运营构成了极大威胁,“天空地”一体化综合勘察技术有效解决了地质灾害勘察识别难题。“天”基多源立体卫星遥感技术实现艰险复杂山区地质灾害的大范围精准判识,长时序InSAR与高精度GPS实现高陡岸坡的稳定性监测分析;“空”基真实感大场景、机载倾斜摄影和机载LiDAR扫描技术实现高植被覆盖区隐蔽性地质灾害判识;“地”基三维立体勘探技术获取岩土体结构、属性、参数;共同构建沟谷山地灾害链风险评价方案,为建设工程合理选址和工程设置提供依据。介绍地质灾害监测预警的方法、内容、技术和预警模型,对监测预警技术发展方向进行展望。

遥感技术在洪涝灾害防御中的前沿应用与面临挑战

及时全面掌握洪涝发生的关键信息是洪涝灾害防御的基础,将遥感技术与传统监测技术相结合,形成“天空地”一体化的立体监测体系,可以实现宏观观测与重点监测的互补与协同,有利于洪涝灾害的监测、预报和预警,显著提高洪涝灾害防御能力。遥感技术可应用于水体提取、水位测算、降水测量、流量估算、洪涝模拟、灾害损失估计等,但在监测数据可用性、监测方法有效性等方面还有很多问题需要解决。

卫星遥感水利应用进展与展望

监测感知数据是构建数字孪生水利体系的基础,卫星遥感是重要的监测感知手段。随着我国航天事业的蓬勃发展,依托国家科技重大专项、国家重点研发计划等科研项目开展技术攻关,以及国家防汛抗旱指挥系统工程等重大项目的推广应用,水利部构建了“采存算用全自主、遥感处理全链条、主要业务全覆盖、应用服务全贯通”的卫星遥感水利应用技术体系。卫星遥感技术在数字孪生水利数据底板建设、流域防洪、水资源管理与调配、河湖管理、水土保持、水利工程监测监管等业务工作中得到了广泛应用,发挥了显著成效。未来将从持续拓展卫星遥感影像资源、深度融合人工智能技术、强化“天空地”协同监测融合应用等方面,推动卫星遥感水利应用,赋能水利业务。

卫星互联网赋能新型电力系统创新应用

卫星互联网是通过卫星规模化组网,以航天、通信、网络、数据等技术为支撑的全球全域全时新型网络信息基础设施。与传统卫星网络相比,具有广覆盖、低时延、高带宽、低成本等优势。通过剖析新型电力系统在广域覆盖、抗毁顽存、垂直应用等信息化能力建设方面的挑战,凝练高中低轨协同的卫星互联网内涵定义与能力特征,提出卫星互联网在电力规划、态势感知、巡视检修、防灾应急等业务领域赋能新型电力系统的实践路径。提出基于零信任的星地融合网络信息安全体系,为建设、运行及发展空天地全面一体、通导遥深度融合的新型电力系统提供基础参考,进一步提升新质生产力水平。

延误传播控制导向的机场保障效率量化与评估

为量化和评估机场保障对延误传播的控制能力,提出一种延误传播控制导向的机场保障效率量化方法。利用线性回归方法计算机场保障效率及其波动范围,同时考虑延误控制手段、机场拥挤、时间段等因素对延误传播的影响。以中国45座主要机场为例,基于2019年航班延误数据,分析不同繁忙程度、不同延误水平下的机场保障效率特征,并讨论机场保障效率与航班延误的内在关联。研究发现,高繁忙度机场的保障效率易受到延误航班判定标准的影响;部分中低繁忙机场可在航班延误传播控制中发挥延误缓冲的作用;高效机场在应对60 min以上的传播延误时具有显著优势。

基于模糊PID的球形两栖机器人的设计及控制

为了解决移动机器人对工作环境要求严格的问题,设计了一种适用于多变、狭窄环境的轻小型球形陆空两栖机器人,具有地面滚动和空中飞行两种运动模式,可以自主完成运动模式的切换。首先,设计了机器人的结构,包括滚动部分、飞行部分和模式切换部分。基于拉格朗日方法,建立了不同运动模式下的动力学模型,建立了基于欧拉方程的运动学模型。最后,根据机器人的运动模型,设计了飞行模式和地面滚动模式下的姿态控制器,并对控制器进行了仿真对比实验。在实机上进行了测试,实验结果表明,该机器人能够实现自主模式切换,在不同运动模式下运动稳定、姿态可控,在纯地面模式下具有一定的越障能力。在结构、控制方法及控制策略切换方法上对陆空两栖可变形机器人具有一定借鉴作用。

农牧交错区草地生物多样性研究进展:方法、挑战、不足与展望

土地利用变化是生物多样性丧失的主要驱动因素,农牧交错区耕地-草地界面变化对草地生物多样性有显著影响,系统梳理相关研究进展,对于区域可持续发展至关重要。本文首先从空间尺度、研究层次、研究方法和应用决策4个角度对农牧交错区草地生物多样性研究进展进行了系统阐述,然后分析了当前农牧交错区草地生物多样性保护面临的挑战和机遇,最后就目前已有研究的局限性和未来的发展方向进行了探讨。研究表明,当前农牧交错区“耕地-草地界面变化对生物多样性影响”的研究十分薄弱,研究层次有待扩展、跨尺度集成研究亟须加强。未来应当融入空天地一体化的遥感监测技术,系统推进农牧交错区草地生物多样性研究,在全面理解影响机制的基础上,探索耕地粮食生产和草地生物多样性保护的双赢方案,促进区域可持续发展。

一种低驻波宽角波束超宽带双锥线阵列天线研制

设计和制作了一种实现宽角波束扫描的1×3超宽带双锥线极化阵列天线,可以应用于无人机上实现空地宽带通信。由于无人机平台安装尺寸受限,通过用椭球形阵子代替传统锥形阵子,并切割椭球振子外部轮廓使其安装在250 mm×130 mm×90 mm的空间内,实现了低剖面、小型化等特点。仿真结果表明,该阵列天线在0.8~2.4 GHz的频带范围内电压驻波比均小于2.5,在±45°波束扫描范围内的4个波束的最低增益均超过了2 dBi,满足实际的应用需求。

密林环境空地协同GNSS/UWB快速高精度定位技术

针对密林中卫星信号遮挡难以实现快速高精度定位的问题,提出了一种密林环境空地协同全球卫星导航系统/超宽带(GNSS/UWB)高精度定位方法。该方法综合考虑无人机平台在空旷环境快速运动与超宽带的强穿透性测量等特征,通过无人机携带GNSS/UWB集成化载荷,以移动单基站模拟多基站,配合密林中UWB标签组网测距,完成密林中UWB标签定位。对基站布设方案展开研究,为密林环境下空地协同GNSS/UWB快速高精度定位技术应用提供基站布设指导和依据,并且利用密林环境下实测测距实验+仿真定位实验对提出的方法进行验证。结果表明,所述方法可有效实现密林环境下的快速高精度定位,精度达到分米级,并且通过优选基站布设网型、范围及高度可有效提高定位精度,为密林环境下快速高精度定位方法提供了理论支撑。