Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF183-023

Description

To address the Air Force need for an improved thermal characterization process for ferrite phase shifters used in phased array antennas, Physical Optics Corporation (POC), proposes to develop a Machine-Learning Fast Automatic Shifter Tuning (M-FAST) system. The current method to characterize ferrite phase shifters used in phased array antennas during the overhaul process at OC-ALC requires a minimum of 16 hours. Innovation in the M-FAST measurement process reduces the M-FAST characterization time to <4 hours. In addition, use of POC-developed intelligent log data analysis tools in M-FAST reduces the number of response curves required to fully characterize each phase shifter from several dozen to less than ten. As a result, M-FAST can measure more phase shifters in a shorter time and with fewer measurement points, meeting the Air Force requirements for this topic. In Phase I POC will do a complete trade study to improve the characterization process by reducing test time and/or equipment maintenance costs. In Phase II, POC will develop a procedure that reduces the 16 hours phase array antenna overhaul, which include the optimal number of response curve and minimal point measurements to predict a phase shifter’s behavior.