Meet Jakub Rezler, a driving force behind Domino-E’s Satellite Communication and Resource Management Service (SCRMS) at ITTI. In this interview, Jakub breaks down how SCRMS is transforming the way satellite networks are managed by turning them into shared resources, opening up unprecedented opportunities for collaboration among satellite operators.
To start off, could you explain the role that ITTI plays within the DOMINO-E project and your specific responsibilities in this initiative?
“We are the ones working on the Satellite Communication and Resource Management Service (SCRMS) in the DOMINO-E project. Essentially, you could say that we are positioned towards the latter stages of the workflow. The SCRMS itself acts as a kind of schedule maker for the communication between satellites and ground stations. It organizes these interactions to ensure that data transfer is as seamless and conflict-free as possible.”
The term “schedule maker” is intriguing. Can you break down what SCRMS actually does and why it’s a crucial component of satellite operations?
“SCRMS is all about coordination. Satellites are constantly moving, and their orbits dictate when they come within range of a ground station. The challenge is to make sure that when a satellite is in the right position, we maximize its time by scheduling data transfers precisely. SCRMS handles this by managing these ‘meetings’ between satellites and ground stations, ensuring there are no overlaps or missed opportunities.”
So how does this approach differ from traditional methods of satellite communication and scheduling?
“In traditional systems, each operator focuses on their own network of satellites and ground stations, making decisions in isolation. The novelty of the DOMINO-E approach, and SCRMS in particular, is that it treats satellite networks as a shared resource. Instead of being confined to a single operator’s assets, the SCRMS enables multiple satellite owners to collaborate and utilize each other’s ground stations, leading to a more integrated and efficient operation.”
Do you see similarities with other sharing approaches we know from various industries?
“Sure, it’s about managing the complexity of resource sharing. And by that, I mean not just pooling all resources together as if we all own everything. It’s more like we have the ability to rent specific resources from others when needed. An analogy might be car sharing.
Imagine two companies, each with their own fleet of three cars. On a particular day, one of these companies might need five cars. They have a problem because they don’t have enough vehicles. They could borrow cars from the other company, but the challenge lies in determining whether it’s worth it in the long run. They don’t know how long they’ll need the car, where exactly it will go, or how much it will cost to operate.
And it’s not just two companies involved; there might be three or four companies sharing resources. They have to dynamically calculate in real-time which option is more cost-effective. Maybe they’ll choose to borrow from one company because the rates are cheaper, but that company might also have less capacity, which complicates things quickly.
The SCRMS Domino is specifically designed to handle that complexity. It manages the mathematical challenge of determining which solution is the most optimal one, ensuring that all these factors are considered in real-time.”
That’s a significant shift in how satellite resources are managed. What are the key challenges that come with implementing this multi-user, multi-system approach?
“The biggest challenge is definitely the complexity involved in coordinating a vast number of variables. When you’re dealing with a single user and one satellite, that’s already a puzzle to solve. But when you bring in multiple users, each with their own satellites and ground stations, the number of possible scenarios explodes exponentially. We need to create solutions that are not just technically feasible but also optimized to ensure that every participant gets the best possible outcome.”
Could you give an example of how SCRMS handles these logistics when different satellite owners share resources?
“Sure. Let’s say one ground station belongs to a specific organization, but it isn’t being used at a particular time. With SCRMS, that station can be rented out to another operator who needs it. This flexibility allows satellites to maintain continuous communication by using available ground stations, even if they don’t own them, as long as there are agreements in place to facilitate this exchange.”
That must add a whole new layer of complexity to managing these communications. How does SCRMS deal with all these agreements and scheduling conflicts?
“Absolutely, it’s a complex operation because we have to consider not just the physical constraints, but also the contractual agreements between different satellite owners. SCRMS prioritizes these communications based on criteria like complexity and cost effectiveness of the resulting schedule, as well as fulfillment of satellites’ contact needs. The goal is to find a solution that maximizes the use of resources while keeping operational costs as low as possible.”
Can you elaborate on how SCRMS aligns with the overall vision of the DOMINO-E project?
“DOMINO-E’s vision is to create a seamless federation layer that integrates various satellite systems, allowing them to operate collaboratively rather than independently. The SCRMS plays a key role in this by managing how these systems communicate with each other and the ground stations. It ensures that the data transfer processes are synchronized, enabling multiple missions to run simultaneously without interference.”
With such a broad scope, how does SCRMS handle potential failures or conflicts that arise during satellite communication?
“The design of SCRMS is focused on managing these conflicts proactively. If multiple satellites need to communicate with the same ground station at the same time, SCRMS uses a prioritization mechanism. It evaluates which data transfers are the most critical and allocates resources accordingly. This approach helps us handle conflicts efficiently and minimizes disruptions in communication.”
That sounds like a system that requires some serious computational power. What kind of algorithms do you use to ensure that SCRMS can operate at this level of efficiency?
“We test a number of different algorithms, to identify the solutions which work the best. For example, we use various search-based algorithms, to essentially look around an initial solution, each time looking for a slightly better solution, for as long of a time as we give the algorithm. Also, for each of the algorithm we can use two main strategies- one that prioritizes fulfilling the contact needs with no risk of multiple satellites jamming each other’s communication, while the other tries to be as economical as possible. This combination lets us adapt to changing conditions on the fly, ensuring that our scheduling decisions are as efficient as possible under varying circumstances.”
Does that mean SCRMS can continuously adjust its operations as new information becomes available?
“Exactly. SCRMS is designed to be highly adaptive. It doesn’t just generate a one-time schedule; it constantly updates the plan as new data comes in, such as changes in satellite trajectories or said satellite going through a maneuver and being unavailable for a given time. This real-time adaptability is crucial for optimizing satellite communication in dynamic environments.”
Can you share a scenario where SCRMS’s adaptability made a significant difference in operations?
“Imagine a natural disaster like a hurricane or an earthquake. Traditional satellite systems might struggle to respond quickly because they’re locked into pre-determined schedules. With SCRMS, we can immediately re-prioritize and reallocate satellite resources to focus on the affected area, ensuring that we gather the most relevant data as quickly as possible. This flexibility is a game-changer in emergency response scenarios.”
How does the collaborative aspect of DOMINO-E influence the development and implementation of SCRMS?
“DOMINO-E’s collaborative nature is one of its greatest strengths. By adopting standardized APIs and modular architecture, we make it easy for different companies to plug into our system. This encourages innovation because any organization that adheres to these standards can develop their own solutions, which then seamlessly integrate with the broader DOMINO-E framework.”
That seems like it would foster both competition and collaboration among satellite operators. How do you manage this balance?
“It’s a fine balance indeed. The beauty of this approach is that while companies are encouraged to innovate and develop their own unique solutions, they do so within a framework that supports interoperability. This way, even competitive developments contribute to the collective progress of the satellite ecosystem. It’s a collaborative competition, if you will.”
What do you believe is the most transformative impact that SCRMS and DOMINO-E will have on satellite communication?
“The transformative aspect lies in the way we’re breaking down silos between different satellite systems. By enabling these systems to interact and collaborate, we not only improve operational efficiency but also open up new possibilities for faster data delivery and more comprehensive Earth observation. This kind of unified approach could redefine how we handle satellite missions in response to real-time events.”
Looking to the future, where do you see the evolution of SCRMS and DOMINO-E heading? Are there any developments that particularly excite you?
“The next big step for SCRMS and DOMINO-E is scalability. We’re focused on enhancing the system to manage even larger constellations with more diverse operational needs. What excites me the most is the integration of AI and machine learning into our optimization processes. AI can help predict satellite paths, adjust to weather patterns, and make smarter scheduling decisions in real-time, taking the system to a whole new level of autonomy.”
AI integration indeed sounds like a game-changer. How do you foresee AI specifically enhancing the capabilities of SCRMS?
“AI’s ability to analyze and learn from massive datasets can significantly improve how we predict satellite movements and ground station availability. It could automate the decision-making process to a great extent, making real-time adjustments without human intervention. This would not only increase efficiency but also reduce the response time to changes or emergencies, enhancing the overall effectiveness of satellite resource management.”
Finally, how does your team at ITTI stay ahead of the curve in such a fast-evolving field like satellite communications?
“Staying ahead means continuously innovating and staying open to new technologies. We invest a lot in research and development, always looking to refine our algorithms and adopt the latest in AI and machine learning techniques. Collaboration with other industry leaders also plays a huge role. By staying connected with the broader satellite and space technology community, we ensure that we’re not just following trends but setting them.”
It’s fascinating to see how SCRMS and DOMINO-E are setting the stage for the future of satellite communication. Thank you for sharing your insights, Jakub. It’s clear that your work is paving the way for some groundbreaking advancements in the field.
“Thank you. It’s been a pleasure discussing our work, and I’m excited to see how these innovations will shape the future of satellite technology.”