TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Sensors, Battlespace

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to develop a methodology for antenna optimization on a platform.

DESCRIPTION: Develop a genetic algorithm to determine the best placement for antennas (or array elements) on a platform. A genetic algorithm would search an optimization space that considers antenna elements with parasitic effects and reflections from the host platform. The optimization criteria would consider radiation pattern objectives and spectrum co-utilization.

PHASE I: Describe a genetic algorithm to place antenna elements (including 3-D arrays) on a platform. The genetic algorithm shall consider the platform (e.g. wire frame, CAD/CAM) model, antenna models, and constraints in a typical scenario.

Metrics to be examined are directionality and omni regularity for a set of antennas and/or antenna elements. Also to be considered is spectrum utilization efficiency for a typical scenario to be defined by a hypothetical ISR configuration and communications plan.

The phase I deliverable will provide abstract genetic representation, methodology/criteria and data sources that would enhance platform design.

PHASE II: Demonstrate the genetic algorithm to optimize antennas and/or placement on platforms from the antenna model(s) and CAD/CAM model of a naval surface combatant for which the data is most available.
The phase II deliverable would be simulation results to support an engineering change proposal to affect improvements of phase I metrics.

PHASE III: Optimize antennas and/or placement on selected air, surface, subsurface or ground platforms. The algorithm would be hosted on a high performance cluster or sensor grid. A specific phase III objective would optimize platforms. A general objective would be to institutionalize the methodology for design validation and virtual testing.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: All DoD and commercial communications will benefit. Commercial applications include air transport, automatic and medical industries.

REFERENCES:
1. IEEE std 1900 series

2. MHQ w/MOC CONOPS Brief (ONR BAA 07-021 dated 10 April 2007)
NAVSEA 9085.3A Selected Drawings for Ship Acquisitions

3. Ship drawing repository: https://www.dlis.dla.mil/medals/pdfs/NAVSEA_PLANNING_YARD.pdf

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_algorithm

5. C4ISR Architecture Framework

KEYWORDS: genetic algorithm; antenna design; ISR apertures; conformal antennas; platform integration; cosite interference

TPOC: Thomas Starai
Phone: (301) 669-2133
Fax:
Email: [email protected]