Date: Jan 01, 2012 Source: ARMY SBIR Success Story (
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Now in their fifth year since the initial X-Band success, hYPRES has again broken barriers in Superconducting Digital-RF technology by performing simultaneous multi-band digitization in data yielding frequencies beyond X to now include the higher bands: Ku and Ka. Additionally, the latestADR derivative successfully harvested data from a satellite link without the use of a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), demonstratingthe ability to broaden the digital domain and driving the analog boundaries further out in both frequency and power. The hYPRES ADR performed in place of the demodulator, down converter and LNA with all the functions currently found in the analog domain.
Upon transition, the Army's Joint SATCOM Engineering Center (JSEC), in collaboration with the Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR), will possess the capability to digitize an entire payload instantaneously. Although there have been many technology challenges, hYPRES has made significant advancement in dynamic range, thermal management, digital amplification, spectral masking, low maintenance cooling and spectral analysis. These achievements will further the work in all areas of communication by expanding the digital boundaries particularly at the long haul applications. Most significantly, this technology will provide a more powerful tool in the user's hands. The ADR technology will assist both the Army and the Navy in their plans to reduce infrastructure costs by introducing large all digital platforms, such as the Army Future Advanced SATCOM Terminals architecture.
Technology Transition:
The Program Executive Officer (PEO), Enterprise Information Systems (EIS), is the transition lead for this technology. CERDEC's JSEC will receive this system to use as a digital mining tool for high frequency broadband exploration. JSEC's targeted use is for more affordable protected communications and bandwidth reuse applications reducing costs for in garrison and in theater operations.Another key use includes JSEC's bandwidth expansion initiative via precision polarization diversity achievable only with the ADR. The Army plans to field a set of four ADR units atvarious strategic earth terminals around the world for approximately one year before ramping up to full fielding. The Navy has also invested $3M in the development of a different variant of the Digital-RF receiver for shipboard applications.
