Ultra-Wideband Technology Extensions for a Covert RF Data Link

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) signals, much like conventional spread spectrum waveforms, minimize intercepts from unintended receivers by generating negligible amounts of energy within the intercept receiver's acquisition bandwidth. Unlike spread spectrum, UWB spread bandwidth is generated directly, not by modulation with a spreading sequence. UWB is essentially a time-domain concept in which an extremely short pulse generates an extremely wide bandwidth signal because of the Fourier transform relationship between time and frequency. MSSI, teamed with ANRO, has recently completed a very successful SBIR Phase I program where feasibility was demonstrated for a covert 1 Mb/s UWB data link that could be combined with an altimeter for a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) application. It was shown that the simplicity of a UWB avionics package permits the development of a singel, common module capable of performing communciations, altimeter, obstacle avoidance, data link and transponder position/recovery functions, all at low cost and system complexity. Advances in imulse, or UWB technology, made by MSSI and ANRO over the past 10 years now provide a firm foundation for further system application development, primarily extending data rates to 100 Mb/s and apparent center frequency to 30 GHz. Anticipated Benefits: UWB technology offers LPI/LPD performance, but at significant cost and reliability advantages to conventional systems. Due to its digital nature, UWB systems are small, lighweight, inexpensive, extremely accurate, and very reliable. Application areas include altimetry, obstacle avoidance radar, data links (military and commercial), and transponder/position recovery.