Low-Frequency, All Digital Radar (ADR) for Biomass and Ice-sheet Investigations

Low-Frequency, All Digital Radar (ADR) can be a key component for NASA Phased-array and tomographic Radar systems spanning multiple earth-science measurement objectives. One of the key attractions of ADR is hardware re-use for different scenarios. Intelligent Automation Inc. (IAI) proposes the design of an ADR system to meet the technology requirements listed in this solicitation. State-of-the-art technologies in the design of data conversion devices like Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC), Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC), Direct Digital Synthesizers (DDS) and reconfigurable logic devices like Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) MMIC make it possible to realize the concept of ADR with low SWaP and low-cost goals. The proposed ADR will build upon IAI's Software Defined Radio/ Radar (SDR) design expertise. Our proposed approach is modular, scalable and meets the NASA goals of multi-channel, coherent altimeters along the cross track to obtain high resolution in the cross track direction.

Our proposed design can be used for a wide range of remote sensing applications for NASA including: -Miniaturized, reconfigurable radar systems for UAVs -Digital Receivers and Exciter (DREX) -Radar Target Generators. -Tomographic Radar for Biomass and Ice-sheet imaging. -Algorithm development platform for existing NASA radar platforms (GISMO, EcoSAR, DBSAR, HIWRAP, URAD) or communications systems.

The most promising commercial applications of the proposed ADR, besides NASA Radar applications are: -Real-time digital processors -Network emulators -Arbitrary waveform synthesizers. -Reconfigurable Radar and Communications prototyping.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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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