SBIR/STTR Award attributes
NextGen RF Design will research the feasibility of what we call a Highly Adaptive Radio (HAR) to achieve low probability of detection (PDD) and intercept (LPI) optimized for low SWaP and is capable of SATCOM and terrestrial communications. Our study will revolve around the concept of autonomously switching a variety of over-the-air protocols to adapt to the conditions of a contested environment. We anticipate defining multiple algorithms and modes of operation optimized on how dynamically observing the link quality will perform in a hostile RF environment and the results of our study will show how feasible this is. Our analysis will be done using computer modeling and simulations of real-world RF environments in the presence of high broadband noise and discrete jammers and determine how best to maintain the link quality. To ensure LPD/LPI we will emulate existing protocols to fool adversaries and other similar techniques along with introducing wideband radio frequency operation. Our goal is to show the practical limits of all these parameters simultaneously in a commercially realizable design. Based on our experience in small UAS communications systems this can be done in a low SWaP form factor suitable for soldier mobility. Our approach is agnostic to any specific frequency of operation, enabling future expansion into additional applications, however for the sake of this topic we will limit the bands of operation to focus on terrestrial and SATCOM type data links. A research task will be dedicated to the feasibility of operating in millimeter and microwave frequency ranges and how that impacts the low SWaP design. The primary, long term objective is to focus on finding the limits of our novel approach so that the technology can be commercialized into a Phase III project. NextGen RF Design believes from our past experience there are significant innovations by creating an ultra-secure communications system using this approach. The deliverables included in this phase will be a feasibility report of all our areas of research as outlined in the technical volume, bring the technology to readiness to TRL 3 and ready to begin Phase 2 effort.
