High-performance M-Code Acquisition Engine (HiMAE)

ABSTRACT: This SBIR Phase I proposal responds to the U.S. Air Force program objective to design, develop and demonstrate an M-Code acquisition engine capable of acquiring GPS signals with J/S (jamming/signal ratio) of up to 51 dB with a time-to-first-fix (TTFF) of better than 120 seconds given an initial time uncertainty (ITU) of 10 ms. The M-code acquisition engine will also perform in the face of Blue Force Electronic Attack (BFEA) and hence will not rely on acquisition of the C/A-Code to handoff to M-Code acquisition. The acquisition engine will meet the needs of SWaP (size, weight and power) - restricted platforms, such as handheld user/ground-embedded applications, PGMs, or small UASs/UAVs. The Mayflower proposed HiMAE acquisition engine architecture builds on our demonstrated M-prime engine design and expands its capability to directly acquire M-code GPS signals in high jamming and with large initial time uncertainty. The Phase I study will analyze and evaluate the HiMAE architecture and demonstrate its feasibility to meet the Air Force SBIR program objective. The Phase II program will demonstrate its operation in SWaP-optimized Phase II prototype hardware.This SBIR Phase I proposal responds to the U.S. Air Force program objective to design, develop and demonstrate an M-Code acquisition; BENEFIT: The proposed HiMAE acquisition technology directly supports DoD/GPS Directorate MGUE Increment 2 user equipment development and addresses a critical program need for a NAVWAR compatible SWaP-C optimized MGUE receiver that works well in a BFEA environment as well as in hostile high jamming environment. The proposed HiMAE technology, after successful Phase II development and demonstration, will be commercialized (under a licensing agreement) to all large and small MGUE developers including Mayflowers security certifiable SGUE Common GPS Module (CGM), a complete YMCA GPS receiver system.