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Data Insights Space systems in defence: Satellite constellation controls

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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 260,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the aerospace and defense industry, there are 110 innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Satellite constellation controls is a key innovation area in space systems

Satellite constellation controls as a whole is the systems and devices used to operate  a group of satellites that work together to provide specific services. These controls ensure proper positioning, communication, and coordination among the satellites in a constellation so that they can collectively achieve their objectives.

GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 155+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established aerospace and defense companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of satellite constellation controls.

Key players in satellite constellation controls – a disruptive innovation in the aerospace and defense industry

‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.   

‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.  

Patent volumes related to satellite constellation controls

Airbus is one of the leading patent filers in satellite constellation controls. The company, through one of its divisions Airbus Defence and Space, filed patent related to a coupling assembly for fluidly connecting first and second spacecraft and a kit of parts for a coupling. It also filed few more patents related to satellite constellation controls, such as reflective satellite and satellite assembly comprising such a satellite, ultra-low latency telecommunications system, telecommunications satellite architecture, system and method for a flying machine for receiving and managing satellite signals, hybrid online policy adaptation strategy for attitude pointing performance, method and system for acquiring images via a constellation of observation satellites, method for attitude control of satellite in survival mode without prior knowledge of local time of satellite's orbit and radiator with reduced irradiance, and guidance system for geostationary satellite.

Some other key patent filers in this space include Boeing, Mitsubishi Electric, Thales, Northrop Grumman, ArianeGroup, and RTX.

In terms of application diversity, Boeing, Airbus, Mitsubishi Electric, Thales, and Northrop Grumman are some of the leading innovators. By means of geographic reach, some of the leading patent filers include Telesat Canada, MDA, Orbion Space Technology, Northrop Grumman, and NovaWurks.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the aerospace and defense industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Space Systems in Aerospace and Defense.

GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.