Embedded PNT Module for Distributed Radar Sensing

Techniques for collecting interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data over multiple simulta-neous baselines, such as polarimetric interferometric and tomographic SAR (PolInSAR and TomoSAR), are emerging as key enablers for new insights into Surface Topography and Vegetation (STV) science. To fully realize the accuracy and resolution benefits of these distributed interferomet-ric techniques, however, the precise relative positioning and timing of the distributed sensing plat-forms must be known to a small fraction of a wavelength and the equivalent distance in time. Patent-pending algorithms developed by Aloft Sensing, Inc. (Aloft) have demonstrated the necessary lev-els of precision and accuracy—both theoretically and with representative field data—to achieve the full potential of multi-baseline distributed interferometric collections. The Aloft team proposes to develop, implement, and validate a hardware module that efficiently deploys these algorithms for real-time position, navigation, and timing (PNT) onboard radar sensing platforms. Suitable for both satellite constellations and suborbital platforms, this self-contained mod-ule can retrofit existing radars or be tightly integrated into new designs and observing systems. Objectives and Benefits: Aloft will develop, implement, and demonstrate a hardware module that captures and digitally processes radar pulses to establish the precise relative positioning and timing of a sensor within a distributed sensing architecture such that coherent image alignment for interferometrics can readily occur and high-quality products can be achieved. Embedded software provides the PNT updates in real-time, supporting onboard data processing needs and minimizing the amount of data to be shared between nodes. Outfitting each platform with this PNT module facilitates the accurate and timely construction of mul-ti-baseline interferometric products. This module is best suited for sensors with multiple receive channels and systems with inter-platform communication links, but it is also applicable to single channel sensors operated as a distributed system without inter-platform communications. The end results are distributed interferometric products with accuracy and resolutions that are improved by 10 to 100× beyond the current state of the art and facilitates near real-time product generation. This level of advancement enables new science in multiple STV areas. Outline and Methodology: The first year conducts a mission requirements and concept of op-erations study, establishes the module hardware architecture, orders long-lead components, maps the existing floating-point algorithms to the hardware architecture, and implements the embedded software. The second year establishes a detailed layout and design of the hardware board, fabri-cates units for testing, and ends with a lab-based test vector demonstration of the full embedded module. The third year validates the real-time PNT module performance and capabilities within an existing radar testbed, first in the laboratory and then with outdoor tests and demonstrations. Period of Performance: A 33-month effort: 1 April 2022 to 31 December 2024. Entry and Exit TRL: (Entry: TRL2/3, Exit: TRL5/5) With internal funding, the concept for the PNT system module has been established and key pieces of the Matlab-based algorithms have been demonstrated with field data (System: TRL2, Algorithms: TRL3). The first year establishes the mod-ule's detailed hardware design and validates the algorithms as mapped onto that hardware (Sys-tem: TRL3, Algorithms: TRL 4). The second year fabricates and tests the hardware and conducts an end-to-end benchtop test of the full hardware module with embedded firmware/software (System: TRL4). The third and final year demonstrates real-time operation of the PNT module within a repre-sentative radar system, in both a laboratory setting as well as in an outdoor environment (System: TRL5, Algorithms: TRL5).

Maturation of observing systems, instrument technology, and measurement concepts for Planetary Boundary Layer and Surface Topography and Vegetation

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