ARETE ASSOCIATES — Department of Defense STTR Phase I: A21C-T009

Description

Areté and UCSD propose to use radar simulations and performance modeling to investigate the benefits and disadvantages of three potential MIMO Millimeter Wave (MMW), phased array configurations and to design a prototype for counter-UAS to detect, classify and track small targets out to 0.5-1.0 km range. Keys to success operational capability include sufficient SNR, sufficient angular resolution, micro-Doppler for discrimination and spatiotemporal processing for classification, and a system design that meets operation needs such as a sufficient field of regard. The system will utilize existing automotive 77 GHz radar module chips and will be MIMO and micro-Doppler capable. Areté will leverage its existing radar models, radar detection algorithms and radar machine-learning classification capabilities to support the design analysis, while UCSD will leverage significant experience developing and producing state-of-the-art integrated phased arrays using automotive MMW radars. The final design will be selected from one of the three proposed architectures and will be used to develop, construct, and demonstrate a prototype in Phase II.