The objective of this Phase I SBIR effort is to develop and demonstrate an advanced, space antenna with a steerable, formable beam for Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. GPS satellites currently use fixed beam L-band antennas to provide hemispherical coverage of the earth. There is a need to be able to focus the GPS broadcast on a specific area of interest, steer it to maintain the beam on that area, and provide additional signal strength for better general reception and overcoming a jammer, etc. The primary objective of this effort is to develop and demonstrate a simultaneous and completely independent three-beam transmit array antenna for use on a GPS satellite that will completely fulfill this need. AOE will focus its attention on active phased array solutions in order arrive at an architecture that exhibits graceful degradation and distributes power and heat over the entire surface of the array. Under this proposed effort, AOE will be working with Boeing (a positioning, navigation, and timing, or PNT prime contractor) to help ensure applicability of AOEs efforts and begin work towards technology transition.
Benefits: The resulting phased array technology developed under this SBIR effort will support the realization of a relatively high power multi-band, multi-beam GPS satellite antenna capable of rapidly and independently steering their beams within a limited field of view. In addition to the GPS, SATCOM systems are in general evolving toward improved coverage, broader bandwidth, higher data throughput systems that will need wide-band, multi-beam antennas. Additional areas where this technology may be employed are in airborne and ground communication terminals that require simultaneous contact with multiple satellites. However, the need can only be met by lightweight, cost-effective solutions such as those that will be focused on in this proposed SBIR effort. A natural extension to the Phase I effort will be demonstrated in a Phase II program, where the new array architecture will be fully demonstrated at the panel level by hardware and measurements.
Keywords: GPS, Phased Array, isoflux pattern, Active Array, GPS Array Antenna
