Next Generation Radar-Radiometer Space Qualified Digital Receiver and Processor

.Remote Sensing Solutions (RSS) proposes will develop the next generation ultra-wideband, low power, high fidelity software defined radar/radiometer receiver and signal processor that will be designed for spaceflight applications. This technology and product will enable combined radar-radiometer missions at reduced power, cost, size and weight while enabling multi-mode operation to address multiple objectives from a single platform. With ability to detect and adapt to RFI, it will overcome the ever increasing RFI problem faced by spaceborne radiometers and it provide synchronous and RFI interference migitation techniques to allow the radar and radiometer to share common RF hardware resulting in significant size, weight and power savings enabling deployment on SmallSATs. Its adaptive pulse-to-pulse reconfigurable architecture will enable for a new paradigm in adaptive active / passive sensing with the ability to cue one another to optimize the mission capabilities and power resources. Based on commercial parts with high radiation tolerance, this system will offer an affordable solution that can be deployed on manned and unmanned aircraft and directly transferred to space as the overall system capabilities are proven, offering a means to lower cost to space and provide a rapid development path. The key innovations are: ultra-wide bandwidth operations to support next generation radiometers; high dynamic range to support radar applications; embedded real-time intelligent RFI mitigation, direct sampling into C-band to reduce RF hardware and provide frequency plans for instruments into millimeter wave bands; high resolution spectral and radar signal processing; and modular and reconfigurable architecture to support broad range of instruments and applications

NASA has been charged with developing missions to obtain new observations to improve our understanding and ability to predict weather and extreme weather events; improve our understanding of the roles and interactions of the oceans, atmospheric, land and ice in the Earth’s climate system; and aid in natural hazards. NASA will need combined active and passive airborne and spaceborne observations and new instruments to meet these objectives, and the proposed RSS software defined receiver will provide critical capabilities in this effort.

The product developed through this effort will offer a unique solution to NOAA and USDA for active / passive remote sensing of the ocean surface, ocean vector winds, precipitation and soil moisture from manned and unmanned UAS platforms and to defense agency for next generation signal intercept and digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) capabilities.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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