Smart Drone Antenna System

The Navy is reliant on communications to function in all operating environments and needs an improved HF and VHF antenna system with Digital Modular Radio that is mobile and easily deployed. However, installing traditional antenna systems on Navy platforms are costly and time consuming. The DRONE (Drone RF Optimized Nodal Element) Antenna System will provide redundancy and resiliency of communication abilities. Diversified Technologies, Inc. (DTI) proposes to design the DRONE Antenna System using an antenna array hoisted by tethered RF-hardened drones. The antennas are fed by high impedance transmission line. The DC power for the drone goes up the same wires as the RF power, and the antennas are very broadband.Many antenna-drone assemblies can be installed on any given Navy platform, depending on application and space available. Each unit is self-contained, providing easy scalability, and all the units are controlled by one control system. The desired broadcast frequency and direction of intended beam projection is input, and if the control system detects undesired interfering signals it automatically determines the array amplitude weightings to direct nulls towards the interferers. The control system then commands the drones into the position to satisfy those requirements without tangling their tethers. The mobility of the drones allows many array configurations for the antennas. The array could adjust its own beam pattern to null interfering signals and select desired signals, as well as transmit a return signal to the same direction from which it received a signal. Current commercial drone light shows have already demonstrated accurate positioning and control of battery-operated drones (no tethers), and DTI can use a similar, more robust, technology to position the drones. DTI will investigate the best antenna for various frequencies considering weight, power, bandwidth, and beam-forming. During Phase I, DTI will design and resolve the several analytical questions for a drone-lofted phase array (e.g., best antenna for each frequency band), develop a conceptual design of a complete DRONE Antenna System, simulate various flight configurations, minimize radar signature of the system and RF harden the drone, and fabricate and demonstrate a small drone-lofted phased array. This will demonstrate Phase II feasibility and inform the future design.