Hardware Based Broadband Ultra High-speed Digital Signal Processor

ABSTRACT: S2 Corporation and subcontractor Research Associates of Syracuse aim to develop a broadband hardware-based ultra high-speed signal processor for real time digital, broadband RF spectrum over 2-18 GHz with digital signal stream captures and analysis for a countermeasure applications, and to demonstrate these digital algorithms to significantly advance the tactical capability through complete and immediate knowledge of the full RF spectrum for enhanced spectral situational awareness, with regards to the generally stated DoD goal of controlling the RF spectrum. This approach will mitigate the core problem of wideband digitizing or narrowband channelizers as a unique union of photonic analog signal processing with digital signal results, that will be integrated with proven RF signal processing algorithms and FGPA hardware to provide a real-time capability to detect and measure signals of interest across a broad bandwidth with low latency. BENEFIT: Extreme wideband spectral analysis over bandwidths of 16 GHz demonstrated in operational hardware that can be scaled to >40 GHz, along with signal processing algorithms in real time digital systems that will perform SIGINT functions. The hardware has advantages over a conventional analog to digital converter based solution in all aspects, including performance, size, weight, power and cost.