Robust Intelligent Monitoring of Varied Approach Lighting Subsystem

Not Available The objective of this SBIR effort is to develop and demonstrate an innovative digital beamforming antenna array suitable for installation on a space vehicle. GPS can provide a cost effective method of tracking space vehicles during launch and orbit entry. However, an antenna is needed that can track the GPS satellites while the space vehicle is spinning to leverage this advantage. NAVSYS proposes to develop a digital beamforming antenna array that can provide all-around GPS satellite visibility from a spinning space-vehicle and will also provide gain directivity to the GPS satellites. This approach leverages the commercial digital GPS antenna array that has already been developed by NAVSYS and has demonstrated 10 dB gain improvements for tracking GPS satellites. We will also leverage our experience with spaceborne antennas and GPS tracking from the Falcon Gold Experiment. This used a NAVSYS' antenna and GPS sensor (TIDGET¿) to show that the GPS signals could be received at altitudes from 1500 to 33000 km. In Phase I, the antenna design will developed and prototyped using our existing technology. Under Phase II, the digital beamforming array will be built, integrated with a suitable GPS receiver, and tested on a spinning platform.