Under this Phase I effort, Stephens & Cross Research, Inc. (SCR) will demonstrate technical feasibility of a rocket inductive link using NFC technology with essential performance features of: bidirectional data communication, inductive energy harvesting and energy storage for operation during link and immediately after, and operation with conductive obscuration. Inductive link performance will be demonstrated analytically and experimentally with custom-designed antennas. The key innovation that underpins the proposed approach is a low-profile ferrite-backed reader antenna in each launcher tube, and a low-profile munition antenna and transponder embedded in the guidance section or warhead.
Benefit: The novel antenna designs allow the use of mature radio frequency identification (RFID) near-field communication (NFC) technology in this application, resulting in a robust and very low-cost solution. Antenna coupling will be rotationally invariant and tolerant of conductive obscuration on the antenna surfaces. The proposed configuration will meet all functional requirements with a simple architecture. The proposed solution is applicable to other small munitions, and significant civilian opportunity exists for applications that require wireless power and communication to rotating machinery (i.e., axles, turbines, shafts, motors, etc.).
Keywords: ultra-short range, ultra-short range, Power, MIL-STD-1760, communication, LAU-61, Inductive link
