Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, ASA(ALT), Phase I
Stationary Target Indicator Waveforms for Theoretical Active Electronically Scanned Array Antenna
Topic Objective
The Apache Attack Helicopter Project Management Office (PMO) and the Sensors Product Director (PD) is seeking to develop an optimized Stationary Target Indicator (STI) waveforms with a supporting modeling and simulation tool set. The tool set will demonstrate capabilities of a theoretical Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna to detect stationary ground targets while using the STI waveforms.
Description
The Apache Attack Helicopter PMO would like to explore the potential benefits of a type of phased array antenna, specifically an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) for the detection of stationary ground targets. An AESA within the Mast Mounted Assembly (located above the rotor) would allow transmission of Stationary Target Indicator (STI) waveforms and beam articulation over a target area. STI waveforms and tools are needed to establish capabilities and limiting factors of a Fire Control Radar (FCR) with a theoretical AESA.
Waveforms must address both Pulse Width (PW) and Pulse Repetition Frequencies (PRF) optimizations to accommodate interference caused by the rotary wing when engagement profiles force the beam to pass through the blades. Waveforms employing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) should be considered for generation of high resolution, low sidelobes and enhanced orthogonality. The tools will be employed to optimize the STI waveforms in the detection of targets within an area of 300 m cross-range (azimuth angular) by 150 m down-range in the following modes: 1. Real-Beam Imaging (RBI) and 2. Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR). The Apache will be positioned at theoretical altitudes, flight profiles and slant ranges detailed in the table below.
Innovative techniques to distinguish unique target signatures such as variable dwell times (the time an antenna beam spends on a target) to improve detection in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), wide bandwidths for fine range resolution, multiple transmit and/or receive channels, Doppler beam sharpening, radar cross section (RCS) pattern matching and others can be used. The STI waveforms and tools will be used at a minimum to define target area coverage, detectable target size, AESA specifications, Flight Profiles (Altitude, Slant Range, Velocity, Attitude, Look Angle to Target), and Beam Time on Target requirements. The optimized STI waveforms and tools will support development of combat techniques to be used in stationary target engagements in both: 1. RBI and 2. SAR.
Fire Control Radar with Theoretical AESA
- Aperture: 8 in H x 22 in W
- Peak TX Power: 400 W
- Duty Factor Pulse Compressing Allowed: 20 %
- Frequency: Ka and Ku
- Polarization: Fully Polarmetric
- Gain: 45 dBi
- Minimum Detectable Signal: -110 dBm
- Range Resolution: 0.3 m
- Doppler Resolution: 0.1 m/sec
- Azimuth Beamwidth: 0.75 deg.
- Elevation Beamwidth: 2 deg.
Theoretical Altitude, Slant Range and Detections
- Altitude: 100-5,000 ft. AGL
- Dismount Detection of 0.75 m2 Target Location Error of 6 m: 0.5-15km Slant Range
- Vehicle Detection at 10 m2 Target Location Error of 0.5 m: 0.5-25km Slant Range
Theoretical Flight Profiles Heading to Target
- Hover at 0 deg. at Altitude and Slant Range; Pedal Turns are allowed to enhance cross-range returns
- Head-On at 0 deg. at Altitude and Slant Range; S Turns Allowed to enhance cross-range returns
- Broadside 90 deg. at Altitude and Slant Range; Profile Arcs as required
Phase I
Develop an initial concept design for prototype STI waveforms for both RBI and SAR modes and manually demonstrate the expected results from each waveform. After the STI waveforms have been completed, development of supporting modeling and simulation (M&S) tools may be accomplished. The modeling tools can be existing in-house tools or based on commercially available products and will focus at a minimum on the system, battlefield environment and scenario parameters. The simulation tools can be existing in-house tools or based on commercially available products and will at a minimum apply parameters to the waveform under test at the following increments: Altitude 100 ft., Slant Range (Dismount 100 m, and Vehicle 100 m) with a focus on transmit frequency, polarization and bandwidth, number of antenna subarrays and platform movements. FCR radar data may or may not be supplied depending on availability, therefore data sources may be generated, or historical data may be used. The required Phase I deliverables will include a formal report documenting the analysis and designs accomplished, STI waveforms, and the proposed M&S tools.
Phase II
The adapted M&S tools used in Phase I will be optimized into a standalone software tool set to support the enhancement of the prototype STI waveforms with emphasis on the STI in RBI and SAR modes. The tool set will exercise the STI waveforms with input signatures of stationary ground target within clutter using signal simulation, signature databases, or collected data depending on availability. Results will be documented, and adjustments made to the prototype waveforms as signal extractions are accomplished. This process will result in enhanced STI waveforms for the detection of stationary ground target in clutter while in RBI and SAR modes. The desired Phase II result is a demonstration to substantiate the operation and capabilities of the waveforms and tool set. The required Phase II deliverables will include a formal report, enhanced STI waveforms, and the optimized tool set.
Classified proposals are not accepted under the DoD SBIR Program. In the event DoD Components identify topics that will involve classified work in Phase II, companies invited to submit a proposal must have or be able to obtain the proper facility and personnel clearances to perform Phase II work.
Phase III
In Phase III the vendor will work with PM Apache and the prime contractors to integrate the STI waveforms into a prototype FCR employing an AESA. The goal is to mature the STI waveforms and tool set to develop real world combat flight profiles and system configurations, which will be used to perform in-flight demonstrations. It is envisioned that an approach of increasing complexity will be used. The initial step is to develop RBI and SAR flight profiles and radar configurations for simplistic target engagements to test the optimized STI waveforms. The next step will be to develop progressively more complex RBI and SAR flight profile and system configurations for more difficult target engagements to completely test the optimized STI waveforms. During each iteration compare flight test results to the results produced by to M&S tool set and evaluate the differences to determine if the waveforms or tool set require modification. Any changes to the STI waveforms or tool set would be documented and presented to the government.
In the longer-term, the desire is to potentially integrate this technology onto current and/or future Army rotorcraft radars, such as Future Vertical Lift radars or the AH-64 Apache Fire Control Radar. The waveforms and accompanying tool set can be used in the digital evolution of target extraction techniques from high noise environments in military and civilian for applications (i.e. perimeter security, terrain mapping, advanced nonvisual point to point navigation in denied GPS environments and terrain avoidance). Also, the modeling and simulation tool set is not limited to RF-derived signal strings. Other commercial applications may include detection and processing of any sub-clutter signals as seen medical scanning, atmospheric anomaly, and industrial object detection.
Submission Information
To submit full proposal packages, and for more information, visit the DSIP Portal.
References:
- Onart and Arikan, “Simulation of Real Beam Ground Mapping Mode of a Pulsed Radar,” 2006 IEEE 14th Signal Processing and Communications Applications, Antalya, 2006, pp. 1-4.
- L. Zhang, Y. Yu, T. Xu and J. Zhang, “Simulation of Airborne Radar Real Beam Ground Map Based on Digital Terrain,” 2013 International Conference on Computational and Information Sciences, Shiyang, 2013, pp. 26-29.
- X. Zhang, M. He, Z. He, H. Su and J. Zhang, “Research on mono-pulse forward-looking imaging airborne radar system,” IET International Radar Conference 2013, Xi’an, 2013, pp. 1-3.
- Y. Zhang, D. Mao, Q. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. Huang and J. Yang, “Airborne Forward-Looking Radar Super-Resolution Imaging Using Iterative Adaptive Approach,” in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 2044-2054, July 2019.
Topic Objective
The Apache Attack Helicopter Project Management Office (PMO) and the Sensors Product Director (PD) is seeking to develop an optimized Stationary Target Indicator (STI) waveforms with a supporting modeling and simulation tool set. The tool set will demonstrate capabilities of a theoretical Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna to detect stationary ground targets while using the STI waveforms.
Description
The Apache Attack Helicopter PMO would like to explore the potential benefits of a type of phased array antenna, specifically an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) for the detection of stationary ground targets. An AESA within the Mast Mounted Assembly (located above the rotor) would allow transmission of Stationary Target Indicator (STI) waveforms and beam articulation over a target area. STI waveforms and tools are needed to establish capabilities and limiting factors of a Fire Control Radar (FCR) with a theoretical AESA.
Waveforms must address both Pulse Width (PW) and Pulse Repetition Frequencies (PRF) optimizations to accommodate interference caused by the rotary wing when engagement profiles force the beam to pass through the blades. Waveforms employing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) should be considered for generation of high resolution, low sidelobes and enhanced orthogonality. The tools will be employed to optimize the STI waveforms in the detection of targets within an area of 300 m cross-range (azimuth angular) by 150 m down-range in the following modes: 1. Real-Beam Imaging (RBI) and 2. Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR). The Apache will be positioned at theoretical altitudes, flight profiles and slant ranges detailed in the table below.
Innovative techniques to distinguish unique target signatures such as variable dwell times (the time an antenna beam spends on a target) to improve detection in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), wide bandwidths for fine range resolution, multiple transmit and/or receive channels, Doppler beam sharpening, radar cross section (RCS) pattern matching and others can be used. The STI waveforms and tools will be used at a minimum to define target area coverage, detectable target size, AESA specifications, Flight Profiles (Altitude, Slant Range, Velocity, Attitude, Look Angle to Target), and Beam Time on Target requirements. The optimized STI waveforms and tools will support development of combat techniques to be used in stationary target engagements in both: 1. RBI and 2. SAR.
Fire Control Radar with Theoretical AESA
- Aperture: 8 in H x 22 in W
- Peak TX Power: 400 W
- Duty Factor Pulse Compressing Allowed: 20 %
- Frequency: Ka and Ku
- Polarization: Fully Polarmetric
- Gain: 45 dBi
- Minimum Detectable Signal: -110 dBm
- Range Resolution: 0.3 m
- Doppler Resolution: 0.1 m/sec
- Azimuth Beamwidth: 0.75 deg.
- Elevation Beamwidth: 2 deg.
Theoretical Altitude, Slant Range and Detections
- Altitude: 100-5,000 ft. AGL
- Dismount Detection of 0.75 m2 Target Location Error of 6 m: 0.5-15km Slant Range
- Vehicle Detection at 10 m2 Target Location Error of 0.5 m: 0.5-25km Slant Range
Theoretical Flight Profiles Heading to Target
- Hover at 0 deg. at Altitude and Slant Range; Pedal Turns are allowed to enhance cross-range returns
- Head-On at 0 deg. at Altitude and Slant Range; S Turns Allowed to enhance cross-range returns
- Broadside 90 deg. at Altitude and Slant Range; Profile Arcs as required
Phase I
Develop an initial concept design for prototype STI waveforms for both RBI and SAR modes and manually demonstrate the expected results from each waveform. After the STI waveforms have been completed, development of supporting modeling and simulation (M&S) tools may be accomplished. The modeling tools can be existing in-house tools or based on commercially available products and will focus at a minimum on the system, battlefield environment and scenario parameters. The simulation tools can be existing in-house tools or based on commercially available products and will at a minimum apply parameters to the waveform under test at the following increments: Altitude 100 ft., Slant Range (Dismount 100 m, and Vehicle 100 m) with a focus on transmit frequency, polarization and bandwidth, number of antenna subarrays and platform movements. FCR radar data may or may not be supplied depending on availability, therefore data sources may be generated, or historical data may be used. The required Phase I deliverables will include a formal report documenting the analysis and designs accomplished, STI waveforms, and the proposed M&S tools.
Phase II
The adapted M&S tools used in Phase I will be optimized into a standalone software tool set to support the enhancement of the prototype STI waveforms with emphasis on the STI in RBI and SAR modes. The tool set will exercise the STI waveforms with input signatures of stationary ground target within clutter using signal simulation, signature databases, or collected data depending on availability. Results will be documented, and adjustments made to the prototype waveforms as signal extractions are accomplished. This process will result in enhanced STI waveforms for the detection of stationary ground target in clutter while in RBI and SAR modes. The desired Phase II result is a demonstration to substantiate the operation and capabilities of the waveforms and tool set. The required Phase II deliverables will include a formal report, enhanced STI waveforms, and the optimized tool set.
Classified proposals are not accepted under the DoD SBIR Program. In the event DoD Components identify topics that will involve classified work in Phase II, companies invited to submit a proposal must have or be able to obtain the proper facility and personnel clearances to perform Phase II work.
Phase III
In Phase III the vendor will work with PM Apache and the prime contractors to integrate the STI waveforms into a prototype FCR employing an AESA. The goal is to mature the STI waveforms and tool set to develop real world combat flight profiles and system configurations, which will be used to perform in-flight demonstrations. It is envisioned that an approach of increasing complexity will be used. The initial step is to develop RBI and SAR flight profiles and radar configurations for simplistic target engagements to test the optimized STI waveforms. The next step will be to develop progressively more complex RBI and SAR flight profile and system configurations for more difficult target engagements to completely test the optimized STI waveforms. During each iteration compare flight test results to the results produced by to M&S tool set and evaluate the differences to determine if the waveforms or tool set require modification. Any changes to the STI waveforms or tool set would be documented and presented to the government.
In the longer-term, the desire is to potentially integrate this technology onto current and/or future Army rotorcraft radars, such as Future Vertical Lift radars or the AH-64 Apache Fire Control Radar. The waveforms and accompanying tool set can be used in the digital evolution of target extraction techniques from high noise environments in military and civilian for applications (i.e. perimeter security, terrain mapping, advanced nonvisual point to point navigation in denied GPS environments and terrain avoidance). Also, the modeling and simulation tool set is not limited to RF-derived signal strings. Other commercial applications may include detection and processing of any sub-clutter signals as seen medical scanning, atmospheric anomaly, and industrial object detection.
Submission Information
To submit full proposal packages, and for more information, visit the DSIP Portal.
References:
- Onart and Arikan, “Simulation of Real Beam Ground Mapping Mode of a Pulsed Radar,” 2006 IEEE 14th Signal Processing and Communications Applications, Antalya, 2006, pp. 1-4.
- L. Zhang, Y. Yu, T. Xu and J. Zhang, “Simulation of Airborne Radar Real Beam Ground Map Based on Digital Terrain,” 2013 International Conference on Computational and Information Sciences, Shiyang, 2013, pp. 26-29.
- X. Zhang, M. He, Z. He, H. Su and J. Zhang, “Research on mono-pulse forward-looking imaging airborne radar system,” IET International Radar Conference 2013, Xi’an, 2013, pp. 1-3.
- Y. Zhang, D. Mao, Q. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. Huang and J. Yang, “Airborne Forward-Looking Radar Super-Resolution Imaging Using Iterative Adaptive Approach,” in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 2044-2054, July 2019.