Multi Objective Genetic Algorithm Optimization Of a Cubesats Constellation To Ensure Communication Services During Natural Disasters Over Europe

The thesis is focuses on the study and optimisation of a communication service, based on the deployment of a CubeSats constellation, capable to provide a continuous coverage of an area of interest, in the specific, Europe and to provide a stable communication in every point of the selected region by using small transportable antennas on ground. A market survey is performed and showed that in the communications market, the use of nano and/or microsatellites has had an exponential increase in the last two decades and is destined to grow in the future. Of particular interest of this thesis is the continuous coverage in order to assist the Civil Protection operations, in case of emergencies, which need an up to date satellite communication system. In this sense, a constellation could be particularly attractive and could solve some limitations of the current technologies. Starting from the definitions of system requirements, during the project 0 phase, a feasibility study is performed. It is based on the link budget equation and on the coverage problem. This analysis sets the initial conditions in terms of antenna system, for the optimization of the constellation. The core of the work is the implementation of a genetic algorithm based on a multi-object optimisation, where the Keplerian orbital elements and constellation parameters where taken as inputs, to generate the different populations to be provided to the fitness function. The scenario is built using MATLAB functions that works in STK, by running the algorithm on the latter. The study is conducted in an innovative way, using the interaction between MATLAB and STK. The number of planes, number of satellites per plane, orbital planes inclination and satellites altitude are the output of the analysis. These parameters allow to establish a preliminary mass and cost estimation. This thesis is developed thanks to a collaboration between the Politecnico of Torino and the company ALTEC S.p.A. The work was carried out at ALTEC headquarters, with the support of the University.