SBIR Phase II: Power-Optimized Beamforming Front-End Technology for High-Capacity Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communications

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to develop a platform technology as an enabler of a wide range of high-throughput wireless communications for the next generation of broadband multigigabit connectivity. The millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology solves some of the key underlying challenges of mmWave radios and networks and is pivotal to a wide set of 5G/6G wireless applications, including fixed and mobile wireless access, among others. As a building block of 5G/6G, this advanced wireless technology will enable rapid and robust roll-out of the next generation network. This project will enable network operators to rapidly roll-out advanced 5G wireless telecommunication networks and will allow service providers to deploy cost-effective broadband connectivity to millions of underserved users, bridging the digital divide. The advanced wireless technology will serve a wide set of wireless related applications in the 5G/6G market.The solution may impact multiple industry sectors ranging from smart transportation and online healthcare to education, smart city initiatives, and manufacturing and semiconductor industries._x000D_ _x000D_ This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on the development and implementation of the mmWave beamforming Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) as the core of a novel, power-optimized, beamforming, front-end technology. This technology uniquely provides a combination of ultra-high gain beamforming with significantly reduced power consumption and RF losses when compared to the conventional mmWave front-end technologies. The mmWave front-end technology is based on a novel architecture along with high-performance sub-systems.The team will investigate and demonstrate the performance of this beamforming RFIC front-end architecture for adaptation in highly efficient and high-capacity wireless networks. Integrated as a wireless solution for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), this technology offers significant cost savings and revenue boost for network and service operators and providers._x000D_ _x000D_ This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.