Development of a Robust Smart Antenna Array Signal-Processing Algorithmbased on Antenna Array Auto-Calibration Using GPS Signals

Abstract

For the U.S. Air Force better, more rapid decision-making is essential to achieving virtually all joint war-fighting capabilities in the 21st century battle-space. War-fighters must be assured the capability to seamlessly acquire, store, distribute and protect their information. Seamless communications span the globe; interconnecting command echelons, services, and allies worldwide by implementing common transport protocols and dynamic network management. By focusing on wide bandwidth capabilities linked to the Air Force's current narrowband tactical systems, including mitigated modems to recover messages during nuclear and naturally disturbed environments, the Air Force can provide the correct critical information to the warrior anywhere in the world. To achieve wideband seamless communications it is essential to use smart conformal wideband (2 MHz 2 GHz) antennas. This has the added benefit of resulting in fewer antennas being required on airplanes and Uninhabited Air Vehicles (UAVs). The University of Limerick has ongoing research in the general area of array signal processing algorithms for smart antennas. The principal general goal of this project is the development of improved robust, stable and accurate algorithms for signal source bearing estimations using sampled data taken from the sensors of phase array antennas on airplanes and UAVs. The particular goal is to investigate the feasibility of using Global Positioning System (GPS) signals to facilitate "on-the-fly" auto-calibration of phase array antennas and to develop a means of doing so.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA425265

Entities

People

  • M. O'droma

Organizations

  • University of Limerick

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Antenna Arrays
  • Arrays
  • Code Division Multiple Access
  • Communication Channels
  • Communication Systems
  • Computational Science
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Direction Finding
  • Linear Programming
  • Maximum Likelihood Estimation
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Multiple Access
  • Signal Processing

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Phased Array Antenna Design.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Space