Building smarter connections between satellites and Earth
Project led by Ertan Ozturk aims to support next-generation 6G and space communication systems
As satellite mega-constellations expand and the world moves closer to 6G communications, researchers are working to answer an increasingly important question: How can space-based and ground-based networks work together seamlessly?
At UND, Ertan Ozturk, principal investigator in the School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, is developing new tools to help answer that question.
Ozturk recently received funding through the ND NASA EPSCoR Research Seed Grant Program for his project, “AI-Enabled Hybrid Emulation–Simulation Testbed for Integrated Satellite–Terrestrial Networks.” The project will support the development of a flexible research platform designed to evaluate the next generation of integrated satellite and terrestrial communication systems.
The project comes at a time when satellite networks are becoming more central to global connectivity. From remote broadband access to autonomous systems, disaster response, national security and future space exploration, reliable communication between Earth and space is becoming an essential part of modern infrastructure.
Ozturk’s project focuses on creating a hybrid testbed that combines real-time network emulation with large-scale simulation. In simpler terms, the platform will allow researchers to study communication networks in a controlled environment that can reflect both real-world behavior and complex future scenarios.
That capability is especially important for integrated satellite-terrestrial networks, which must operate across changing conditions. Satellites move. Users move. Signals travel long distances. Network demands shift quickly. Researchers need ways to test how these systems perform before they are deployed at scale.
The testbed will allow UND researchers to study challenges such as latency, reliability, mobility, resource management and interoperability between terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication systems. These are key factors in determining whether future networks can deliver fast, dependable service across both ground and space-based infrastructure.
A central feature of the project is the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. These tools will be incorporated into the testbed to help optimize network performance and automate decision-making processes.
Through the platform, researchers will be able to evaluate adaptive communication strategies, intelligent routing and resource allocation methods for future 6G-enabled space and terrestrial networks. The goal is to help networks respond more efficiently to changing conditions, whether that means rerouting data, managing limited resources or maintaining reliable connections across a complex system.
The project also aligns closely with NASA’s interest in advanced communication infrastructure. As future space missions become more data-intensive and autonomous, resilient communication systems will be essential. Technologies that improve satellite communications, autonomous networking and network reliability can support both space exploration and life on Earth.
By establishing the testbed at UND, Ozturk’s project will strengthen the University’s growing research capabilities in space communications and advanced networking. It also creates opportunities for future collaborative research involving satellite communications, autonomous systems and resilient communication infrastructure.
The seed grant will help lay the groundwork for larger research efforts and future partnerships. It will also provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to become involved in cutting-edge work at the intersection of aerospace, communications, artificial intelligence and computer science.
Student involvement is a key part of the project’s long-term impact. As industries and agencies continue to build more sophisticated communication systems, students who gain hands-on experience with 6G concepts, satellite networks and artificial intelligence will be better prepared for careers in rapidly evolving technical fields.
The project reflects UND’s continued growth in research areas connected to space, national security, autonomous systems and advanced computing. It also supports North Dakota’s role in developing technologies that can contribute to future global connectivity.
The ability to connect people, data and systems reliably is becoming one of the defining challenges of the future. Through Ozturk’s NASA EPSCoR-supported project, UND researchers and students are helping build the tools needed to meet that challenge.
Written by Paige Prekker // UND College of Engineering & Mines
