N131-009 TITLE: Low Size Weight and Power (SWaP) wideband Digital Receiver Exciters (DREX) technologies for Radar and Communication Systems

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 290

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted". The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative low size, weight and power (SWaP) wideband Digital Receiver Exciter (DREX) technologies for application to next generation Navy Radar and Communication Systems.

DESCRIPTION: Next Generation Radar and Communication Systems are required to be low SWaP yet have flexibility via highly digitized DREXs that support high-bandwidth advanced waveforms and high bandwidths for relatively large arrays, Digital Beam-Forming (DBF), Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP), and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Radar and dual use Radar/Communication applications. In addition, additional total system SWaP improvements can be obtained by performing additional applicable signal processing in the DREX, thus simplifying the interface of the antenna sub-system to the general purpose signal processor. Low SWaP DREX architectures will require to be highly integrated with the array and the application. In addition, practical hardware channels are not perfectly matched in phase and amplitude response requiring the DREX to perform the channel-to-channel matching and equalization.

The goal of this SBIR is to develop low SWaP DREX techniques that integrate closely to radar and communication phased array systems that lower the total system SWaP and cost.

Innovative and integrated low SWaP DREX technology enables thin, efficient, low SWaP, low cost, high performance radar and communication phased array systems. These arrays would eliminate the need for mechanical gimbal positioners by placing the antennas on all sides of the platform for complete 360 degree field of view (FOV) entirely electronically scanned. With small arrays then even full duplex high bit rate communication could be easily done.

The concepts for radar and communication array should span frequencies from 2 to 17 Ghz and support bandwidths up to 1 GHz. The concepts should consider both high bit rate digital two way communication and radar search and track functions. Design should consider the needs in the antenna section and applications for both communication and radar. There should be as much commonality in design as possible to implement communication and radar in the same AESA.

PHASE I: Develop and determine the feasibility of DREX concepts for radar and communication array. Select a frequency band and design concept for Phase II implementation to prove the concept.

PHASE II: Perform the detail design of low SWaP DREX to be integrated with a phased array antenna and ready it for full implementation in Phase III. Demonstrate the prototype and produce specifications and detail designs to support fabrication.

PHASE III: Build one or more DREX for integration on radar and/or communication systems for proof demonstration eventual transition to selected platforms.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The proposed technology has a number of related commercial applications in communication and radio frequency (RF) sensors such as radars. Commercial radar systems, commercial and communications systems (e.g. Telecom, SATcom), all require DREX and have increasing needs for wideband low power, highly digital (flexible) DREX technology.

REFERENCES:
1. Hao H., Stoica, P. & Jian L. (2010). Waveform design with stopband and correlation constraints for cognitive radar. Second International Workshop on Cognitive Information Processing (CIP).

2. Krieger, G., Gebert, N. & Moreira, A. (2008). Multidimensional Waveform Encoding: A New Digital Beamforming Technique for Synthetic Aperture Radar Remote Sensing. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 46,1.

3. Krieger, G., Gebert, N. & Moreira, A. (2008). Digital Beamforming Technique for Synthetic Aperture Radar Remote Sensing. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing. 46,1.

KEYWORDS: Radar; Digitial Receiver; Digital Beam-Forming; Space-Time Adaptive Processing; Multiple-Input Multiple-Output; Communication

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between 16 November, 2012 through 16 December 2012, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting 17 December, 2012, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

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