Description

MIT’s System Architecture has spent the last 10 years building algorithms for and studying the emergence of LEO satellite communications constellations with NASA, Facebook, SES, and others.  To date there are at least 12 proposed civilian constellations at varying stages of maturity. We will review an apples-to-apples model that compares the expected throughput of each, including their capacity sensitivity to number of ground stations and the presence of inter-satellite links. The emergence of LEO satcom constellations implies several orders of magnitude jump in complexity of satellite operations : this talk will briefly discuss the pipeline of algorithms necessary to automate constellation operations, from dynamic beam placement to frequency allocation. Finally, we will discuss recent work studying China’s strategic intent for 2 proposed LEO satcom constellations, including ambitions for domestic connectivity and potential Belt-and-Road Initiative exports of that communications capacity. 

Biography

Bruce Cameron is the director of the System Architecture Group at MIT. His current research efforts include platform management in large R&D organizations, system architecture of complex systems, strategic management of stakeholder needs in international partnerships, and network analysis of customer requirements priority. Cameron teaches the system architecture core class for the System Design and Management program and has supervised over 50 graduate students. His teaching in Sloan Executive Education has been tied for the highest-rated executive education program at MIT for several years. Additionally, he is the faculty director for MIT’s Architecture and System Engineering online certificate.

Cameron is a cofounder of Technology Strategy Partners, a consultancy created to help firms to restructure product development organizations, build systems engineering functions, and identify new architectures. He has led projects for Fortune 500 firms in high tech, medical devices, transportation, and consumer goods. Previously, Cameron worked in high tech and banking, where he built advanced analytics for managing complex development programs, and was a system engineer at MDA Space Systems. He is a past board member of the University of Toronto. 

Cameron earned a BASc from the University of Toronto. He also holds two MS degrees and a PhD from MIT.