Echodyne Corp. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF192-006

Description

Echodyne proposes conducting testing and analysis of its EchoGuard radar’s automatic UAV classifier performance in order to enhance its ability to support UAS sensing and avoidance. Echodyne has applied its breakthrough Metamaterials Electronically Scanning Array (MESA) phased-array technology to build the EchoGuard, a radar that can handle a range of missions, including surveillance, short-range ATC, and C-sUAS. The advantages of the EchoGuard’s radio-frequency transmit-beam-steering antennas are considerable for 3-Dimensional (3D) multi-mission security, and the EchoGuard offers those phased-array performance advantages at a historically-unachievable low Cost, Size, Weight, and Power (C-SWaP). Echodyne would conduct (1) iterative testing on the current radar’s ability to classify UAS with particular emphasis on variance in performance based on UAS characteristic and stability of classification over time and (2) technical interchange meetings with USAF stakeholders to define sensing and avoidance requirements for future radars. Anticipated benefits include identification of optimal settings and techniques for EchoGuard sUAS detection and tracking, as well as design targets for future radar builds. Potential commercial applications include enabling ground- and air-based sense and avoid for the commercial UAS industry.