On-Orbit Reprogrammable Digital Waveform Generator for GPS

ABSTRACT: In order to support changes in requirements for military and civilian GPS and other PNT systems, there is a need to update the signals transmitted from the space segment. In addition to this SBIR topic, the Air Force has also released a Broad Area Announcement seeking sources with capability to develop one. In Phase I, Azure Summit Technology, Inc. (Azure) proposes to show the feasibility of a digital signal generator module that provides at least five distinct, fully programmable signal chains applicable to the existing GPS space segment, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou systems, and future enhancements such as additional waveforms and modified navigation messages. In fact, our general purpose architecture allows for generating any of a large class signals by providing for reliable reprogramming of that segment of the module responsible for defining the signal chain parameters, as well as a goal of tuning the RF section to transmit at frequencies anywhere within L-band (1000-2000 MHz). BENEFIT: The benefit of the Azure technology developed during Phase I is a On Orbit Re-Programmable Digital Waveform Generator (ORDWG) architecture that provides for general purpose L-band navigation signal generation applicable to GPS, Galileo, and other navigation systems. The architecture supports both parametric adjustment of the signals on-orbit and total reprogramming of the FPGA that generates all of the data messages, codes, and performs all of the multiplexing and modulation.