USMC Ground Radio LPI/LPD Interference Mitigation Active Communication Antenna
Navy SBIR FY2018.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2018.1
Topic No.: N181-003
Topic Title: USMC Ground Radio LPI/LPD Interference Mitigation Active Communication Antenna
Proposal No.: N181-003-0671
Firm: Vulcan Wireless Inc.
2218 Faraday Ave.
Suite 110
Carlsbad, California 92008
Contact: Kevin Lynaugh
Phone: (760) 602-0606
Web Site: http://www.vulcanwireless.com
Abstract: Today, the Marine Corp Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) utilizes multiple communication systems in environments that require covert communications and are exposed to severe interference. To provide significantly improved LPI/LPD (Low-probability of Interference/Low-probability of detection) we propose an add-on MIMO module that connects to the antenna port of the existing tactical radio, specifically the AN/PRC-117G. Control of the tactical radio is done via Ethernet to coordinate the tactical radio and add-on module for setup to insure proper configuration, such as carrier frequency and waveform selection. The add-on MIMO module is completely autonomous in operation of the modem and thus does not violate RED/BLACK isolation requirements imposed within the tactical radio. The MIMO (Multipole Input Multiple Output) technology can be added to these existing radios without any modifications to it. The MIMO module improves the existing tactical radio allowing it to still communicate with existing tactical radios but with advanced beamforming capabilities. When connecting to another tactical radio with add-on MIMO module, the radio can support significantly improved LPI/LPD capability by spreading the waveform up to a 2 GHz bandwidth.
Benefits: Our commercialization strategy is to provide an end to end solution that is easily integrated into a software defined radio as an Intellectual Property (IP) core. The technology developed in this SBIR effort will be directly applicable to a wide variety of wireless systems and can be readily adapted to multiple waveforms and applications. It is anticipated that we will leverage our digital beam forming techniques into IP core that can be scaled for a wide variety of wireless applications. We will market the IP blocks along with our existing RF hardware products. IP cores are becoming much more portable as much higher integration is being done in silicon. In the past each beam forming application used highly customized hardware making it very difficult to segment into a reusable IP core. This is no longer true with the introduction of RF SoC our IP cores will be reusable in any radio system that utilizes this core. Vulcan Wireless has commercialized Software Defined Radios for small space vehicles and this technology will enhance future radio systems.

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