Joint communication and sensing has been a key technology in 6G. By integrating sensing into maritime communications, ships can communicate with the base station while sensing the surrounding environment to ensure safe navigation. In this paper, we introduce an integrated satellite-terrestrial maritime system (ISTMS) with joint communication and sensing based on the same radio-frequency signals. Specifically, the terrestrial base station (TBS) and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite provide communication services for near-shore users (NSUs) and offshore users (OSUs), respectively, while simultaneously performing target sensing. Based on a differential evolution method (DE), we propose a sensing algorithm, which can enhance the location accuracy and reduce resource consumption. Furthermore, we derive the key performance metrics for both communication and sensing. Through joint beamforming optimization of the TBS and LEO satellite, we maximize the sum rate of maritime users while satisfying target localization accuracy requirements and transmit power constraints. Finally, extensive simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in terms of location accuracy and transmission rate compared with the baseline algorithms.

Next-generation low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations face critical bottlenecks in spectral efficiency and onboard hardware complexity. To overcome these limitations, this paper introduces a novel architecture enabled by metasur-face antennas (MAs) at the LEO satellites. In particular, MAs are metasurface-integrated feed antennas that perform highprecision beamforming directly in the wave domain, thereby effectively mitigating multi-user interference. Based on such an antenna architecture, a weighted sum rate (WSR) maximization problem is formulated by jointly optimizing the scheduling of feed antennas to terrestrial users (TUs) and the passive beamforming of the metasurface for system performance enhancement. To address this mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) challenge, an alternating optimization (AO)-based joint scheduling and beamforming algorithm is proposed. On the one hand, the proposed algorithm incorporates a polynomial-time minimum-cost maximum-flow (MCMF) method, which is dedicated to the optimal scheduling of feed antennas and TUs. On the other hand, it adopts a weighted minimum mean square error (WMMSE) method integrated with semidefinite relaxation (SDR) technique, which is tailored for metasurface beamforming design. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm for MA-enabled LEO satellite constellation communications.

In this paper, we explore the integration of communication and synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based remote sensing in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems to provide real-time SAR imaging and information transmission. Considering the high-mobility characteristics of satellite channels and limited processing capabilities of satellite payloads, we propose an integrated communication and remote sensing architecture based on an orthogonal delay-Doppler division multiplexing (ODDM) signal waveform. Both communication and SAR imaging functionalities are achieved with an integrated transceiver onboard the LEO satellite, utilizing the same waveform and radio frequency (RF) front-end. Based on such an architecture, we propose a transmission protocol compatible with the 5G NR standard using downlink pilots for joint channel estimation and SAR imaging. Furthermore, we design a unified signal processing framework for the integrated satellite receiver to simultaneously achieve high-performance channel sensing, low-complexity channel equalization and interference-free SAR imaging. Finally, the performance of the proposed integrated system is demonstrated through comprehensive analysis and extensive simulations in the sub-6 GHz band. Moreover, a software-defined radio (SDR) prototype is presented to validate its effectiveness for real-time SAR imaging and information transmission in satellite direct-connect user equipment (UE) scenarios within the millimeter-wave (mmWave) band.

To provide multiple-satellite coverage for global Internet of Things (IoT), a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite IoT constellation usually contains multiple-layer orbits with different altitudes. However, the performance of multiple-layer LEO satellite IoT constellations under practical Rician fading satellite channels remains unknown due to complex theoretical modeling and intractable mathematical analysis. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a stochastic geometry-based modeling and analysis framework for multiple-layer LEO satellite IoT constellations, integrating Rician channel modeling and Cox point processes. Specifically, we introduce a novel channel approximation method to overcome the intractable expressions caused by the Rician fading. Building on this method, we derive exact closed-form expressions for key performance metrics, including connectivity probability, coverage probability, and transmission rate, especially in the case of IoT short-packet transmission. Extensive simulation results validate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed model and reveal significant design insights. The results not only provide new theoretical perspectives for modeling and analysis of LEO satellite IoT constellations but also offer practical guidance for system deployment and optimization.

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite Internet of Things (IoT) has been identified as one of the important components of the sixth-generation (6G) non-terrestrial networks (NTN) to provide ubiquitous connectivity. Due to the low orbit altitude and high mobility, a massive number of satellites are required to form a global continuous coverage constellation, leading to a high construction cost. To this end, this paper proposes a LEO satellite IoT constellation design algorithm with the goal of minimizing the total cost while satisfying quality of service (QoS) requirements in terms of coverage ratio and communication quality. Specifically, with a novel fitness function and efficient algorithm’s operators, the proposed algorithm converges more quickly and achieves lower constellation construction cost compared to baseline algorithms under the same QoS requirements. Theoretical analysis proves the global and fast convergence of the proposed algorithm due to a novel fitness function. Finally, extensive simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in LEO satellite IoT constellation design.

In this paper, we investigate the integration of communication and synthetic aperture radar (SAR)-based remote sensing in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems. To address the high-mobility characteristic of LEO satellites, we propose an integrated system architecture based on an orthogonal delay-Doppler division multiplexing (ODDM) signal waveform. Specifically, we provide a wireless frame compatible with the 5G NR standard for signal sharing and design a unified channel sensing scheme that utilizes shared ODDM signals for both channel estimation in communication and interference-free range reconstruction in SAR imaging. Finally, numerical simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite Internet of Things (IoT) has been recognized as a pivotal element within the realm of sixth-generation (6 G) non-terrestrial networks (NTN), aimed at delivering ubiquitous connectivity. Due to the low orbit altitude and fast movement speed, a massive number of satellites are needed to form a satellite constellation, resulting in substantial construction costs. To this end, this paper proposes a LEO satellite IoT constellation design algorithm with the goal of minimizing the total cost while satisfying quality of service (QoS) requirements in terms of coverage ratio and communication quality. Simulation results validate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in LEO satellite IoT constellation.

In this paper, we present an integrated terrestrial and satellite maritime communication system, where a shore-based terrestrial base station (TBS) and a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite cooperatively provide wide-area communication services to maritime users. We conduct performance analysis for the integrated satellite-terrestrial maritime communication system. Specifically, we analyze the transmission rate and coverage probability of near-shore and off-shore users respectively according to the maritime communication environment. Besides, in order to better understand the impact of some key parameters, we also make asymptotic analysis in some special cases. Further, we design an optimization algorithm to maximize the coverage probability of near-shore users by adjusting the transmission power of TBS and the LEO satellite, while ensuring the both off-shore and near-shore users can meet the minimum communication rate requirements. Finally, extensive numerical analysis results verify the accuracy of the theoretical results and the effectiveness of the proposed optimization algorithm in the maritime communication system.

With the explosive growth of maritime activities, it is expected to provide seamless communications with quality of service (QoS) guarantee over broad sea area. In the context, this paper proposes a space-air-ground-sea integrated maritime communication architecture combining satellite, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), terrestrial base station (TBS) and unmanned surface vessel (USV). Firstly, according to the distance away from the shore, the whole marine space is divided to coastal area, offshore area, middle-sea area and open-sea area, the maritime users in which are served by TBS, USV, UAV and satellite, respectively. Then, by exploiting the potential of integrated maritime communication system, a joint beamforming and trajectory optimization algorithm is designed to maximize the minimum transmission rate of maritime users. Finally, theoretical analysis and simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

In order to provide wireless services for wide sea area, this article designs an integrated satellite-terrestrial maritime communication framework. Specifically, the terrestrial base station (TBS) serves near-shore users, while the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communicates with off-shore users. We aim to improve the overall performance of integrated satellite-terrestrial maritime communication system. Thus, it makes sense to jointly optimize transmit beamforming at the TBS and LEO satellite. Due to sea wave fluctuation, the obtained channel state information (CSI) is often imperfect. In this context, a robust beamforming design algorithm is proposed with the goal of minimizing the total power consumption of integrated satellite-terrestrial maritime communication system while satisfying Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in maritime communications.

Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet of things (IoT) is a promising way achieving global Internet of Everything, and thus has been widely recognized as an important component of sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks. Yet, due to high-speed movement of the LEO satellite, it is challenging to acquire timely channel state information (CSI) and design effective multibeam precoding for various IoT applications. To this end, this paper provides a deep learning (DL)-based joint channel prediction and multibeam precoding scheme under adverse environments, e.g., high Doppler shift, long propagation delay, and low satellite payload. Specifically, this paper first designs a DL-based channel prediction scheme by using convolutional neural networks (CNN) and long short term memory (LSTM), which predicts the CSI of current time slot according to that of previous time slots. With the predicted CSI, this paper designs a DL-based robust multibeam precoding scheme by using a channel augmentation method based on variational auto-encoder (VAE). Finally, extensive simulation results confirm the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed scheme in LEO satellite IoT.

With the rapid development of Internet of Things (IoT), low earth orbit (LEO) satellite IoT is expected to provide low power, massive connectivity and wide coverage IoT applications. In this context, this paper provides a massive grant-free random access (GF-RA) scheme for LEO satellite IoT. This scheme does not need to change the transceiver, but transforms the received signal to a tensor decomposition form. By exploiting the characteristics of the tensor structure, a Bayesian learning algorithm for joint active device detection and channel estimation during massive GF-RA is designed. Theoretical analysis shows that the proposed algorithm has fast convergence and low complexity. Finally, extensive simulation results confirm its better performance in terms of error probability for active device detection and normalized mean square error for channel estimation over baseline algorithms in LEO satellite IoT. Especially, it is found that the proposed algorithm requires short preamble sequences and support massive connectivity with a low power, which is appealing to LEO satellite IoT.