Spectrum Dominance Research @ Virginia Tech
Abstract
Over the past decade, the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology (Hume) at Virginia Tech has worked to int egrate the educational objectives of the university with advanced research in support of our national defense partners. Key innovati on areas at Hume include the use of software-defined platforms for a variety of missions, development of unique special communicatio ns waveforms, adaptation of machine learning techniques to RF systems, and unique SATCOM-oriented mission capabilities that support DoD and Intelligence Community efforts. In all of these areas, the Hume Center emphasizes hands-on applied research at the TRL 3-6 maturity range that incorporates cleared/clearable U.S. citizen faculty and students in order tosupport the research objectives of the DoD and IC, while simultaneously performing workforce development for the next generation of enduring STEM talent. In fact, our FY19 student survey (representing 455 students) showed 39% choosing internships / full-time careers as IC civilians, 15% as DoD civ ilians, 15% to the DoD contractor base, 6% to uniformed military service, and a reported 11% as undecided; these figures show a mini mum of 75% of the Hume students choosing to support our collective national defense, consistent with Virginia Techs motto, Ut Prosi m (That I may serve).Within the Hume Center, the Electronic Systems Lab (ESL) consists of 14 faculty members and ~100 students u ndertaking experiential learning activities. ESL has a primary research focus on the DoDs assured access to be RF spectrum primary research areas include design and validation of secure communications waveforms, application of machine learning techniques to RF s ystems, support of wideband SIGINT operations, innovation for protected SATCOM links, and, increasingly, development of advanced ele ctronic warfare techniques. Whereas our wide bandwidth prototypes (>120 MHz) are implemented on customer hardware that is returned / deployed upon completion, this proposal seeks to extend our native ESL capabilities with an environmentally qualified multi-purpose dual-channel (1 GHz) RF digitizer and processing subsystem supporting full-scale, roll-on/roll-off MILSATCOM and EW research. This spectrum dominance testbed will be hosted in our ITAR-controlled Blacksburg research labs (RB1311) and be incorporated into project s supporting PM DCATS Modernization of Enterprise Terminals program, the PMW 120s Spectral program, programs for two IC sponsors, NASCs Airborne Threat Simulation EA program, and ongoing efforts for NSWC Crane and NSWC Dahlgren. We see this spectrum dominance testbed as an enabler to research being performed for existing DoD partners, as well as a foundational capability for maturing deli verables for research sponsors at NRL, ONR, ONI, NSWC Crane, NSWC Dahlgren, Army RCO, CERDEC S&TCD, DIA/ODNI, and a host of industry partners. Moreover, the higher TRL research results provided by the testbed will accelerate technology transition of EW algorithms, primarily delivered with Government Purpose Rights, lowering overall costs. The requested $422K testbed complements approximately $ 3M in related DoD investment in hardware testbeds at RB1311 and will leverage VT investment in connectivity to an on-campus SATCOM g round station.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 07, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112900
Entities
People
- Alan J. Michaels
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Virginia Tech