N211-080 TITLE: Wideband Interference Suppression for Dynamic-range OptiMization (WISDOM)
RT&L FOCUS AREA(S): Networked C3; General Warfighting Requirements
TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics; Information Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.
OBJECTIVE: Develop digital and/or analog military HF (2 MHz to 30 MHz) wideband interference suppression system to yield significant improvements to SNR (>10 dB) and dynamic range (20+ dB).
DESCRIPTION: Battle Force Tactical Network (BFTN), AN/USQ-195(v) system provides tactical Radio Frequency (RF) networked communications for the Navy�s afloat, airborne, ashore, and submerged U.S. Navy forces. BFTN currently transports critical Command and Control (C2) data with rates of 19.2 kbps over HF at up to 200 nm and 64 kbps over Ultra High Frequency (UHF) at up to 20 nm. BFTN is undergoing modernization, called BFTN Resilient Command and Control (RC2) System Enhancement, (BRSE), which will result in a significantly more capable system with a new waveform, Robust Communications for Challenging Environments (RoCCE). To provide optimal communications in a challenged environment or when operating with unintentional interference sources, BRSE with RoCCE will require significant effective increase in dynamic range across the full HF band of operation.
Communication signal interference sources can be intentional (e.g., "jamming") with wide variety of forms or unintentional. The latter includes Electromagnetic interference (EMI), Co-channel interference (CCI), Adjacent-channel interference (ACI), Inter-symbol interference (ISI), Inter-carrier interference (ICI), and Common-mode interference (CMI). Communications systems have various methods to deal with interferences such as adaptive equalization, Automatic Gain Control (AGC), analog filters, and advanced digital signal processing techniques. The communications systems, however, are limited in its ability to maintain the full dynamic range when the effects of interference cannot be fully addressed. The loss in dynamic range limits the effective data that can be transmitted in a communications channel.
Recent advancement in interference suppression and excision have resulted in commercially available stand-alone "appliances" such as iDirect�s Communication Signal Interference Removal (CSIRTM) and the "Auto-tune Filter (AtF)" from Metamagnetics. While each of these systems work well on certain types of interference(s), there is not a single system that can properly categorize the interference(s) and orchestrate the activation of these interference suppression and excision to yield increased dynamic range and improved Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) performance.
It is highly desirable for the WISDOM architecture to be realized in software and/or firmware hosted on the BFTN and its successors.
Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by DoD 5220.22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances, in order to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVWAR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material IAW DoD 5220.22-M during the advanced phases of this contract.
PHASE I: Define the Wideband Interference Suppression for Dynamic-range OptiMization (WISDOM) architecture that will detect and categorize the interference type(s) and produce a strategy to mitigate the interferences thereof. The architecture should assume that either an analog "tap" or a digital copy (e.g., VITA 49.2 format) of the raw signal received by the radio will be made available to the WISDOM system.
During the Phase I Option period, if exercised, develop the SBIR Phase II Project Plan to include a detailed schedule (in Gantt format), spend plan, performance objectives, and transition plan for BFTN and any other PMW/A 170 identified Program of Record (PoR) to include BRSE, when the program is established.
PHASE II: Develop the prototype WISDOM for demonstration and validation in BRSE. Conduct Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the WISDOM prototype and commence development of an Engineering Development Model (EDM) system. Conduct Critical Design Review (CDR) prior to building the EDM.
Develop lifecycle support strategies and concepts for the WISDOM.
Develop SBIR Phase III Project Plan to include a detailed schedule (in Gantt format) and spend plan, performance requirements, and revised transition plan for BRSE and any other PMW/A 170 identified Program of Record (PoR) to include Digital Modular Radio (DMR) and, objectively, with a candidate radio system from PMA/W 101. The name of PMA/W 101 radio system will be provided during Phase II execution period; for proposal purpose, use BRSE as an interim substitute with operation in L band (900 MHz to 2100 MHz).
It is probable that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see Description section for details).
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Refine and fully develop the Phase II EMD to produce a Production Representative Article (PRA) of the WISDOM and integrate into BRSE. Evaluate the potential to perform integration with other PMW/A 170 identified Program of Record (PoR) to include Digital Modular Radio (DMR) and PMA/W 101 radio system.
Perform Formal Qualification Tests (FQT) (e.g., field testing, operational assessments) of the PRA WISDOM, preferably embedded in BRSE.
Provide lifecycle support strategies and concepts for WISDOM potential as embedded in BRSE by developing an amended Life-Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP) for BRSE.
Investigate the dual use of the developed technologies for commercial applications such as in telecommunications. With 5G, new waveforms must be capable of supporting a greater density of users (e.g., up to a million devices per square kilometer) and higher data throughput (speeds in the Gbps), and provide more efficient utilization of available spectrum. WISDOM can potentially provide the high dynamic range and interference suppression capabilities to meet these needs.
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KEYWORDS: RF; Radio Frequency; Interference Suppression; Interference Excision; Interference Excision System; IES; Battle Force Tactical Network; BFTN; Robust Communications for Challenging Environments; RoCCE; BFTN Resilient Command and Control; System Enhancement