Tactical Antenna Switching and Positioning System (TASPS)

"A need exists for an inexpensive lightweight portable Tactical Antenna Switching and Positioning System to be employed on ships. The system should be capable of unattended operation, and continuous tracking of UHF geosynchronous satellites despite shipmovement and periodic blockage of the satellite by the ship's superstructure. Closed-loop and open-loop tracking systems will be designed, built, and delivered to USSOCOM at the end of Phase I. This will allow test and evaluation in the field of bothsystems. Baseline designs are described in the proposal. Phase I R&D would improve these baselines, followed by computer programming and assembly during Phase I. The open and closed-loop systems will use the same small rugged industrial PC processor, sameantennas and other hardware, but different software. The designs also build on a prior UHF SATCOM tracking antenna system developed by the offeror, which will be modified for this application. None of these systems are the same as currently used byUSSOCOM. There is no interruption to the USSOCOM user's communications when it is being switched over to the other antenna. There are no mechanically moving parts; this is rugged and eliminates the effect of wind. Future work could include testingdifferent antennas. This inexpensive lightweight portable antenna switching system will be used aboard ships and able to maintain UHF SATCOM links despite ship movement and periodic blockage by the ship's