A Distributed Computing Framework for Satellite Swarms

📅 2026-09-16
📈 Citations: 0
Influential: 0
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🤖 AI Summary
本文提出一种基于CRDT的分布式计算框架,用于解决大规模卫星群的自主控制和容错问题,减少了地面与卫星间的通信量。
📝 Abstract
The rise of large satellite constellations and Distributed Space Systems (DSS) demands generalized frameworks that enable fault-tolerant, autonomous distributed space applications. Conventional ground-centric command and control does not scale to systems of tens or hundreds of satellites, motivating the adoption of distributed computing. This paper introduces a conceptual distributed computing framework for satellite swarms, covering distributed state, command and control, and scientific mission. As a first validation step, a strongly eventually consistent distributed state service is designed and implemented using Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDT), specifically a Last-Write-Wins Register-based key-value store. The service is evaluated in the context of Space Situational Awareness catalog dissemination across a simulated 66-satellite constellation emulated with GoNetEm. Results show that the CRDT-based approach reduces ground-to-satellite communication from 66 messages to a single uplink per update, with tree traversal matching the total message count of direct uplink. Under concurrent updates, sub-linear inter-satellite message growth is observed as nodes discard outdated versions, further reducing network overhead. These results demonstrate the viability of a CRDT-based distributed state as a scalable and fault-tolerant foundation for satellite swarm applications.
Problem

Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.

Distributed Computing
Satellite Swarms
Fault-tolerant
Autonomous Operations
Scalability
Innovation

Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.

Distributed Computing Framework
Conflict-free Replicated Data Types (CRDT)
Satellite Swarms
Strong Eventual Consistency
Reduced Communication Overhead
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