SBIR-STTR Award

Innovative approaches that improve overall antenna performance while minimizing antenna profile are desired solutions for all volumetrically restricted platforms. This is especially critical for advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms that are expected to provide extended time on station. Spectra Research proposes an innovative approach to accomplishing the program objectives by employing advances in fragmented aperture antenna designs, in concert with the extensive Spectra Research capability in designing specialized antennas, to develop solutions for a unique ultra broadband phased array. Both Cartesian and cylindrical FDTD simulations will provide a set of design rules that then may be used to modify analytical approximations. Once this is done, the design rules will be applied to intelligently optimize a candidate antenna design in the presence of specialized materials. In Phase II of this program, an advanced antenna design will be implemented based on lessons learned and sponsor guidance and a prototype demonstration will be constructed and measured.

Benefit:
Spectra Research has negotiated exclusive rights through licenses with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) to employ the fragmented aperture technology in a number of mutually beneficial markets and plans to aggressively pursue collaborative plans for other applications of ultra-thin, ultra-small, wideband common aperture antenna designs. The proposed SBIR effort is an important step towards continued commercialization of broadband communication and ISR antennas for military and civilian use. There is a clear market pull for advanced communication antennas for both military electronics and the commercial broadband wireless and satellite communications arena. The key features offered by fragmented aperture and fragmented volume antennas are extremely low cost and versatility over a wide range of frequencies by virtue of the wide tunability 0x9D of the devices. This proposed SBIR program is therefore targeting a critical problem and technology barrier that will enable new paradigm shifts in the aviation industry, opening up a potentially vast market.

Keywords:
ISR Antennas, ISR Antennas, Fragmented Apertures, phased array, Music Algorithm, Null Control

There is an urgent, growing demand for versatile, lightweight, low profile, phased arrays to be utilized on advanced ISR platforms. These arrays can be employed for accurate determination of the direction of arrival of emitted signals and for detection of weak signals in noisy environments. The array may be used with lens systems having many channels or with digital receivers with fewer channels that incorporate advanced beamforming algorithms (i.e. MUSIC). It is imperative that these arrays be extremely broadband and very lightweight to allow expanded time on station. Spectra Research has prepared an aggressive plan to develop these advanced arrays. The objective of the Phase II program is to apply the validated Phase I methodology to develop, fabricate and test a prototype array that meets the design goals. The broadband, steerable, low profile, passive phased array will provide improvement over fielded designs in weight, depth, aperture efficiency, response linearity, and will be configured for deployment on various ISR platforms. The prototype is to provide instantaneous dual polarization coverage over the full frequency band for interface with a specified receiver system.

Benefit:
This antenna technology is the basis for a core antenna technology thrust at Spectra Research. The proposed broadband, lightweight, low profile, passive, phased array antenna research effort builds upon numerous active SBIR contracts. The proposed Phase II effort is an important step towards continued commercialization of broadband, lightweight, low profile, passive, phased array antennas for military and civilian use. There is a significant civilian market for low cost phased arrays, particularly for mobile satellite communications applications. The military market is also burgeoning due to increased demand for highly efficient ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) phased arrays. The key features offered by these antennas are extremely low cost and versatility over a wide range of frequencies by virtue of the wide tunability of the devices. We are confident that this wide bandwidth phase array project can help achieve an instant market through numerous applications in the Military and Homeland Security markets.

Keywords:
Connected Array, phased array, common aperture, Broadband Antenna, Beam Steering, Null Control, Music Algorithm, ISR Antenna