MIMO for Energy-Aware Distributed Mobile Wireless Systems (MEADoWS): A Cognitive Software Defined Radio (SDR) MIMO Technology for JTRS

Mayflower’s MEADoWS (MIMO for Energy-Aware Distributed Mobile Wireless Systems) technology is an energy-efficient and spectrally-efficient Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO)-based radio. The MEADoWS system builds on Mayflower’s proven technology in MIMO antenna signal processing. The soldier’s requirements in future wireless mobile communication systems are very demanding on Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP); the power (energy) is the most critical of the three, as it often determines the size and weight. The proposed MEADoWS system innovations directly address this critical need for power reduction in soldiers’ radio by means of an energy-efficient MIMO physical layer, a cognitive MAC layer, and a collaborative network layer. The energy-efficient physical, MAC, and network layers of the MEADoWS system target different sources of energy consumption, leading to significant gains in energy-efficiency. The Phase I feasibility study demonstrated that MEADoWS meets the Army objectives of energy efficiency and applicability to JTRS Cluster 5. In the Phase II program, we will build a prototype MEADoWS and demonstrate its functionality in a test bed, with multiple MEADoWS units participating in the demonstration. In Phase III, we plan to insert the MEADoWS technology in the JTRS Cluster 5 soldier radio working together with General Dynamics- the Army prime contractor for JTRS Cluster 5.