Distributed Antenna Applications for Body Worn Platforms

There is an urgent demand to demonstrate broadband body-wearable antenna technology integrated on the soldier platform. Current whip and vest-integrated antennas when integrated on the body lack adequate bandwidth and spatial coverage for some of the desired multifunction operations. An innovative approach is required to overcome these issues without compromising the favorable size and weight characteristics of these antennas. The goal of the Phase I program was to develop separate body wearable antennas for the dual-band (L1/L2) GPS system and the Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) radio system (420-450 MHz). FIRST RF took an aggressive development approach, and has delivered successful prototype hardware of innovative antenna designs to ARL and PM-Soldier. Extensive modeling, prototyping, and testing was performed to demonstrate the viability of the proposed candidates, resulting in several prototypes that are pragmatic and can be fielded, tested, and produced very quickly. During Phase II, FIRST RF proposes to develop and deliver several field-expedient prototypes as well as models of several candidate technologies for wearable multi-function distributed antenna systems for Land Warrior/Ground Soldier applications. Several prototypes will be made available to ARL, PM-Soldier, and any additional Army customers for testing and human engineering throughout the program.