Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF161-084

Description

ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for a cognitive UHF radio for enhanced Global Positioning System (GPS) crosslinks, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Cognitive Radio-Based UHF/VHF Crosslink Enhancement for Satellites (CRUCES). This proposed CRUCES solution is based on a novel architecture incorporating POCs dynamic spectrum access (DSA) techniques with wideband radio frequency (RF) interference mitigation and spectrum sensing capabilities. Specifically, the CRUCES network architecture will enable GPS inter satellite data transfer with an average data rate up to 2 Mbps using existing UHF/VHF non-directional antennas. Wideband UHF/VHF spectrum sensing and interference mitigation techniquesspecifically designed to operate in a congested, contested RF environmentprovide the basis of a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) approach that will ensure that the GPS crosslinks do not interfere with other users in the band, which directly addresses the Air Force requirements for an advanced VHF/UHF inter-satellite radio network for GPS autonomous navigation and real-time command and control (C2). In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of a CRUCES architecture, operational concept, and preliminary design, through modeling, simulation, and experimental test setups. In Phase II, POC will demonstrate enhanced UHF/VHF crosslinks with brassboard hardware and simulated interference environment.; BENEFIT: The primary application of CRUCES will be to low size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) crosslinks for military and commercial satellite networks. In addition to the future GPS satellites, other potential military platforms for the CRUCES technology may include the Mobile Objective User System (MUOS), Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF). Numerous civilian satellite networks, such as Iridium, could benefit from the CRUCES crosslink technology. The CRUCES technology can be extended beyond crosslinks usage to provide enhanced uplink and downlink rates to ground users once regulatory bodies relax the restrictions on secondary users operating on a non-interference basis throughout the UHF/VHF spectrum. The CRUCES technology may also be readily adapted to non-space applications. Femto-cells in cellular networks can benefit from the CRUCES versatile, high throughput, spectrally-efficient capability to maintain high-bandwidth data transfer in spectrally-congested environments. Local law enforcement, first responders, and rescue units can benefit from integration of the CRUCES technology into multiband radios, ensuring reliable communications between team members in emergency situations.