A study on improving real-time data transmission reliability for water environment measurement USVs utilizing hybrid communication networks

Chanwoong Jun; Yongsik Song; Moogun Kim; Hyojin Ahn; Hyunwoo Lee

doi:10.3741/JKWRA.2025.58.S-3.1575

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2025 Vol.58, Issue 12S-3 Preview Page

Research Article

A study on improving real-time data transmission reliability for water environment measurement USVs utilizing hybrid communication networks 다중통신망을 활용한 물환경 계측 자율무인선의 실시간 데이터 전송 신뢰성 향상 연구

31 December 2025. pp. 1575-1587

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Abstract

This study developed and analyzed the performance of a hybrid communication system integrating LTE and Starlink to support the stable and efficient autonomous navigation of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and to ensure the reliability of real-time transmission for water environment measurement data. The proposed system addresses communication issues caused by the limitations of existing infrastructure, such as LTE shadow zones in rivers and reservoirs. It guarantees communication continuity by utilizing high-speed, low-latency LTE as the primary network in standard environments and switching to broadband, low-latency Starlink satellite internet in shadow zones beyond service range. An intelligent network switching algorithm incorporating Policy-Based Routing (PBR) dynamically selects the optimal network by comprehensively evaluating the real-time communication environment, data importance, and quality requirements. Field simulations conducted at Lake Soyang demonstrated that the developed system offers superior performance compared to existing single networks, achieving integrated coverage of over 99.90 %, a data transmission rate exceeding 95.00 %, and a maximum latency of less t 150 ms. This study is expected to contribute to establishing a highly reliable hydraulic and water quality monitoring infrastructure by utilizing next-generation Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems like Starlink to minimize data loss due to instability and ensure the operational safety of USVs.

Keywords

Unmanned water environment measurement vessel

Hybrid communication system

Low earth orbit satellite

Autonomous navigation

Starlink

Network switching

본 연구는 물환경 계측 자율무인선(USV)이 하천과 호소에서 시·공간적으로 변동하는 수리·수질 구조를 공백역 없이 안정적으로 계측하고 안전하고 효율적인 자율운항을 지원하기 위해 LTE와 Starlink를 통합한 다중통신망 기반 계측 시스템을 개발하고 그 성능을 분석하였다. 하천과 호소 환경에서 LTE 음영지역 등 기존 통신 인프라의 한계로 발생하는 통신 문제를 개선하였다. 일반 환경에서는 고속·저지연 LTE를 주 통신망으로 사용하고, 서비스 범위를 벗어난 음영지역에서는 광대역·저지연 Starlink 위성 인터넷을 활용하여 통신 연속성을 보장하였다. 핵심 기술인 정책 기반 라우팅(PBR)이 적용된 지능형 네트워크 스위칭 알고리즘은 실시간 통신환경, 데이터 유형별 중요도 및 품질 조건 등을 종합적으로 판단하여 최적의 네트워크를 동적으로 선택하고 전환한다. 소양호 현장 시뮬레이션 결과, 개발된 시스템은 기존의 단일 통신망 대비 통합 커버리지(99.90 % 이상), 데이터 전송률(95.00 % 이상), 지연시간(최대지연 150 ms 이하) 측면에서 우수한 성능을 입증하였다. 이 연구는 Starlink와 같은 차세대 LEO 위성 시스템을 활용하여 통신 불안정으로 인한 데이터 누락을 최소화하고 물환경 계측 자율무인선의 운항 안전성을 확보하여 고신뢰 수리·수질 모니터링 인프라 구축에 기여할 것으로 기대된다.

키워드

물환경 계측 자율무인선

다중통신망

저궤도 위성

자율운항

스타링크

네트워크 스위칭

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Information

Publisher :KOREA WATER RESOURECES ASSOCIATION
Publisher(Ko) :한국수자원학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
Journal Title(Ko) :한국수자원학회 논문집
Volume : 58
No :12
Pages :1575-1587
Received Date : 2025-10-28
Revised Date : 2025-12-05
Accepted Date : 2025-12-05
DOI :https://doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2025.58.S-3.1575

Journal of Korea Water Resources Association ISSN:2799-8746(Print) 2799-8754(Online) 한국수자원학회 논문집

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