Navy picks Assurance Technology for new ways of sending radio signals from the ground to space and aircraft
WASHINGTON – U.S. Navy researchers needed new ways of communicating between the ground and deployed spacecraft and aircraft with radio signals. They found their solution from Assurance Technology Corp. in Carlisle, Mass.
Officials of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington announced $193.7 million five-year contract to Assurance Technology on Wednesday for the Transmitting Energy Radio Frequency (RF) Systems project.
The project focuses on transmitting energy across the RF spectrum from the ground to satellites and aircraft. The targeted spacecraft will process the RF energy, and antennas at locations throughout the world will collect the information for analysis.
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Navy researchers chose Assurance Technology because the company has expertise in characterizing large apertures, including photogrammetry and calibration using celestial and mathematical transformations. The company also has experience with high-powered large-aperture antennas from 60 to 150 feet wide; power as strong as 1,000 megawatts; RF ranges of DC to light; RF signal generation with picosecond accuracy; pulse-to-pulse measurement of generated RF signals; and RF mobile communication systems.
Assurance Technology will research proposed RF generation systems and their effects on military satellite and aircraft operations. The company also will develop ways to detect and predict the performance of large apertures, as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of space anomalies on RF signals sent from the ground to space and aircraft.
Mitigation techniques may include advanced signal-compensating algorithms or -avoidance techniques for predicted or detected anomalies.
The company also will develop networks to connect RF systems and devices using uncommon protocols and complex configurations, as well as secure RF mobile communication systems.
The NRL's Space Systems Development Department supports applied research expected to boost enabling technologies for Navy missions.
For more information contact Assurance Technology online at www.assurtech.com, or the Naval Research Laboratory at www.nrl.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
