The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has long been deeply and successfully engaged in the field of space technology. The University’s Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering has developed Hong Kong’s first low-Earth-orbit (LEO) communication-navigation integrated satellite payload “LEO CNAV”, which was recently successfully launched aboard the Yuxing-3 No. 05 satellite (also known as “Tech-Innovation-1”) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu. The launch of the satellite payload, which will undergo in-orbit testing, marks a historic milestone for PolyU in satellite technology and space applications.
This year marks the first year of the Nation’s “15th Five-Year Plan”. The country is accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces through innovation and technology, creating vast growth potential for aerospace technology and related industries. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is also actively promoting aerospace science and technology development and supporting the space economy. This communication-navigation integrated breakthrough by PolyU highlights Hong Kong’s leading position in home-grown space technology and brings fresh momentum to the development of smart cities and the low-altitude economy.
Dr WANG Tianqi, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering and person-in-charge of system integration and testing, said, “From conceptual design and R&D testing to in-orbit operations, LEO CNAV has been developed entirely in-house by the PolyU team, opening a new chapter for independent satellite payload development by local universities. This experience has enabled our team to fully master the end-to-end payload development process, laying a solid foundation for the design of more advanced systems in the future.”
LEO CNAV features four major technological advantages—functional integration, high-precision positioning, low-cost deployment and broad application potential—providing comprehensive support for future smart city infrastructure. In terms of functional integration, traditionally, communication and navigation rely on two separate systems operating independently. LEO CNAV removes this limitation by providing communication, navigation and timing services on a single platform. In future, users will only need one receiver to obtain both functions simultaneously, greatly simplifying system design. This breakthrough innovation has gained international recognition, being awarded a Gold Medal at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. The research team has also filed patent applications for the related core technologies.
For positioning, LEO CNAV can be used in conjunction with existing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS to enhance positioning accuracy in dense urban environments with high-rise buildings. Traditional GPS satellites operate at an altitude of about 20,000 km, resulting in relatively weak signals that are vulnerable to interference or “spoofing attacks”, posing safety risks for autonomous driving and unmanned aerial vehicles. Operating in low Earth orbit at only a few hundred kilometres above ground, LEO CNAV provides much stronger signals. Combined with a uniquely designed signal scheme developed by the team, it effectively resists interference and spoofing, enabling highly accurate navigation for smart mobility and related applications.
LEO CNAV is designed with commercial space needs in mind. The payload consumes only about 23 watts of power, which is less than the power drawn by a typical mobile phone charger, and is compact in size, making it suitable for nano-satellites and other small satellite platforms. Its modular design allows it to “ride-share” on various commercial satellites, requiring only about 30 watts of power and basic interfaces for deployment. By using commercial off-the-shelf components and hardware cost-control strategies, the team has significantly controlled launch costs, laying the groundwork for future large-scale constellation deployment.
LEO CNAV represents a major breakthrough in positioning and navigation technologies and can be widely applied in smart city and low-altitude economy scenarios. Potential applications include enabling lane-level positioning for autonomous vehicles, providing precise navigation for UAV logistics and urban air mobility, and supporting urban infrastructure monitoring and emergency dispatch. LEO CNAV payload designer Prof. XU Bing, Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, said, “Low-Earth-orbit navigation and integrated space–ground communication-navigation systems are the future direction for global space information infrastructure. Through the satellite technology accumulated from the LEO CNAV project, we hope in the longer term to support Internet of Things (IoT) interconnectivity and the deployment of integrated space–air–ground 6G networks, helping the Greater Bay Area build a world-class cluster of smart cities.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to launch additional satellites carrying LEO CNAV to gradually build a LEO constellation network that will support the upgrading of smart transportation. Project leader Prof. WEN Chih-yung, Chair Professor of Aeronautical Engineering of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering, said, “The successful launch of LEO CNAV marks a new chapter for PolyU. We will continue to advance innovation in space technology, nurture talent and broaden international collaboration, contributing to the development of Hong Kong’s commercial space sector and technological advancement in the Greater Bay Area.”
In parallel with driving space research and development, PolyU is also committed to talent cultivation. This year, with a view to nurturing a new generation of professionals for the aerospace sector in Hong Kong and around the world, the University has launched Hong Kong’s first Master of Science in Satellite Engineering programme, covering areas such as satellite orbital dynamics, spacecraft systems, payload design and the emerging “New Space” economy.
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