SBIR-STTR Award

A new type of range extent simulator has been made possible through recent developments in the emerging microelectronic technology of acoustic charge transport (ACT). This technology, developed jointly by DARPA and the U.S. Air Force, has enabled the implementation of digitally programmable analog multitap delay lines. Used as a programmable range extent device, the ACT device provides hundreds of user-selectable delays, each with variable amplitude, in a single microelectronic integrated circuit. The capabilities of the ACT range extent simulator go well beyond the simple fixed delays of cables; in this system, the user actually specifies the complete transfer function of the device. Thus, in addition to setting the desired group delay, the time-and frequency-domain response of the system may be tailored to the requirements of the test. The proposed project seeks to evaluate the feasibility of applying this revolutionary new technology to reference applications by comparing the technical, environmental, and cost requirements of these applications with the capabilities of existing and planned ACT devices. An existing ACT tapped delay line will be used to simulate a variety of extended-range targets over a wide temperature range, and the resulting false target return will be examined to determine its utility for ref simulation applications. The results of this testing will be used in a preliminary design study which will describe the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

An opportunity now exists to bring significant benefits to range-extent simulation systems by employing the emerging technology of acoustic charge transport (ACT). The results of a Phase I SBIR program have demonstrated that the capabilities of ACT selectable delay lines are well-matched to the requirements of both target and clutter range-extent simulation (RES) systems. The use of ACT microelectronic solid-state delay elements in place of thousands of feet of cable has the potential to both improve system performance and to greatly reduce the space occupied by RES systems. The objective of the proposed Phase II program is to develop an ACT-based RES system consisting of 2 target-simulation modules which provide delays from 7.5 to 480 nsec and 2 clutter-simulation modules which provide delays from 30 nsec to 15.36 microsec. The ACT devices, thick-film hybrids, and printed-circuit boards which make up the target and clutter RES modules will be designed, fabricated, tested, and delivered under the proposed Phase II program. An acceptance test plan, and operations/maintenance manual will be delivered with the system. Reports will include monthly status reports, a final test report, and a report on the commercialization of ACT technology.