Performance Analysis of a Wildlife Tracking CubeSat Mission Extension to Drones and Stratospheric Vehicles

Abstract

This study presents a performance analysis for an Internet-of-Things wildlife radio-tracking mission using drones, satellites and stratospheric platforms for data relay with Spread Spectrum Modulation devices. The performance analysis is presented with link and data budgets, calculations of the area coverage, an estimation of the time resolution and allowable data amount of each collar, a power and energy budget and consequent battery pack and collar weight estimations, cost budgets, and considerations on synergetic approaches to incorporate more mission segments together. The paper results are detailed with example species to target with each collar weight range, and with design drivers and guidelines to implement improved mission segments.