Direct-to-Device Connectivity for Integrated Communication, Navigation and Surveillance

2026-03-12

AI Summary

This study addresses the limitations of traditional, siloed communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems, which exhibit low integration and are ill-suited to meet future air traffic management demands for enhanced service quality, spectral efficiency, and low-altitude operations support. To overcome these challenges, this work proposes an integrated CNS (ICNS) architecture grounded in the 5G technology stack, enabling deep functional convergence of the three domains on a unified platform through terrestrial–non-terrestrial network integration, end-to-end direct device connectivity, and a dedicated low-altitude protocol design. The project establishes a 5G-based ICNS network architecture tailored for low-altitude airspace, identifies critical technical pathways, and demonstrates substantial improvements in system performance and scalability, thereby laying a foundation for advanced air traffic management and outlining key directions for future research.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Application Domains: Mobility, Driving & Flight
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Agent Architectures

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Data management and stream processing for Web, mobile and wireless applications
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Vertical and domain-specific search
• Social Networks and Social Media: Socio-technical web-based systems

Abstract

Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) is the backbone of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) systems, ensuring safe and efficient operations of modern and future aviation. Traditionally, the CNS is considered three independent systems: communications, navigation, and surveillance. The current CNS system is fragmented, with limited integration across its three domains. Integrated CNS (ICNS) is a contemporary concept implying that those systems are provisioned through the same technology stack. ICNS is envisioned to improve service quality, spectrum efficiency, communication capacity, navigation predictability, and surveillance capabilities. The 5G technology stack offers higher throughput, lower latency, and massive connectivity compared to many existing communication technologies. This paper presents our 5G ICNS vision and network architecture and discusses how 5G technology can support integrated CNS services using terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. We also discuss key 5G radio access technologies for delivering integrated CNS services at low altitudes for Innovative Air Mobility (IAM) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations. Finally, we present relevant challenges and potential research directions for further studies.

Problem

• Integrated CNS
• Air Traffic Management
• 5G
• Unmanned Aircraft System
• Direct-to-Device Connectivity

Innovation

• Integrated CNS
• 5G
• Direct-to-Device
• Non-terrestrial Networks
• Advanced Air Mobility