RADIUS: Reliable and Adaptive Decision makIng under Uncertainty for Spectrum access

ABSTRACT: Intelligent Automation Inc. proposes to design a robust decision making and dynamic spectrum access (DSA) system for satellite communications under uncertainty. Our system integrates various types of uncertainty caused by environment, regulation, uncontrollable user effects, and prediction. We will first develop methods to quantify the uncertainty by either individual observation or collaborative approach. This approach includes statistical modeling of spectrum dynamics and prediction under various sources of uncertainty in communications systems. We will then design reaction strategies that are robust or opportunistic to uncertainty, or can leverage uncertainty by anticipation. We will wrap these strategies in reliable DSA algorithms to manage and mitigate uncertainty, which can be based on either offline stochastic optimization or online algorithms. We will study the performance, complexity and overhead of the designed algorithms via in-depth analysis, simulation or emulation under realistic communications models. In particular, our approach will integrate uncertainty quantification and uncertainty mitigation in common system architecture. We will identify the optimal conditions and use cases for each algorithm and integrate them in an adaptive algorithm that switches between offline and online algorithms in the system. BENEFIT: We have identified the Air Force Satellite Control Networks, Air Force Space Networks, and Airborne Networks as the initial application/primary market for this technology. The proposed stochastic optimization and robust game theory approach enables holistic understanding of how to efficiently utilize the limited spectrum in a satellite network with uncertainty. Such insights will benefit various applications including space situational awareness, resource allocation, and network adaptation. The proposed solution has tremendous potential in military applications regarding space and airborne networks, such as Space Command, potentially supporting a number of major programs like Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), Airborne Networks Program, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, Future Combat System (FCS), Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS), Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT), NASA Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN), Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) program, UHF Follow-On (UFO) program, and Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) program. As a whole, the proposed effort has great potential to enhance DSA in satellite networks. Such insights are directly beneficial to various satellite systems with respect to space situational awareness, resource allocation, and ensuring highly efficient spectrum access in terms of accuracy, delay, throughput, and overhead. For the proposed optimization framework, there exist a variety of commercial applications including satellite communications, GPS, anti-jam, global coverage tracking/data acquisition services, wireless networks, and vehicle networks. Such a large market need will help attract a great amount of potential investment.