Wideband Interference Detector

Electromagnetic (jamming) interference can disturb, and potentially damage, navigation and command and control equipment. For airborne platforms, manned or unmanned, this can result in the loss of airmen and the platform itself. Current technologies aimed towards counteracting jamming interference efficiently are bulky and consume prohibitively high power. This makes them an infeasible solution for airborne platforms.  Philowave's solution includes developing high-performance spectrum sensing hardware, which can detect incoming electromagnetic interference. This hardware will help wireless communication and radar designers construct their systems to operate reliably in practically any hostile or unregulated electromagnetic spectrum condition. The proposed approach includes novel, physics-based, electromagnetic sensing structures, based on Philowave's patented techniques. The current prototype senses the spectrum, and outputs the frequency and power of any detected interference within 15 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth, in less than a microsecond.  The objective of this project is to develop an even higher-performance interference detector for the Air Force to be used in airborne or wireless sensor network systems. The applied research and development goals target enhancing the bandwidth and response time, in addition to reducing size and power. This ensures the reliable operation of wireless communication links and radars regardless of the electromagnetic environment conditions, protecting airmen and equipment.  The proposal details the work plan to achieve a more advanced, compact, and low-power interference detector designed carefully from the fundamentals with the following objectives: (1) demonstrate capability in a commercial airborne platform (drone), a stand-alone operational system-level integration to detect and suppress an otherwise detrimental interference, (2) explore design space to enhance the overall performance of the interference detection, (3) quantify how compact the interference detection hardware can be, and (4) investigate power reduction techniques. The outcome will significantly revolutionize spectrum superiority for the Air Force.