Optimize High Altitude Communications & Sensor Networks and Mitigate Doppler Effects

United States Air Force S&T identifies five strategic capabilities: 1) Global Persistent Awareness,  2) Resilient Information Sharing, 3) Rapid, Effective Decision-Making, 4) Complexity, Unpredictability, and Mass, and 5) Speed and Reach of Disruption and Lethality. Project OWL’s X22.D STTR Phase 1 proposal herein describes research and development that specifically responds to USAF S&T strategic capabilities in: Global Persistent Awareness Resilient Information Sharing Rapid, Effective Decision-Making The objective of the efforts contained in this proposal is to bring Project OWL’s commercial technology to an adapted solution that meets the demands of AFSOC GSU, an ideal customer and engaged end-user of Project OWL. AFSOC GSU has a national defense mission need in the area of data transmission and communications systems at the tactical network’s edge. Specifically, real-time, persistent communications and sensor information that AFSOC operators leverage is crucial to decision making, strategy and course of action planning to anticipate activity of the opposition. If operators are unable to share information from austere environments they will be at a disadvantage.  Project OWL has closed previous STTR/SBIR contracts that have identified end-users and developed technology capabilities to more effectively meet the needs of the U.S. Air Force.  These contracts include a J20.1 Phase I SBIR, and an X20.A Phase 1 STTR in coordination with Columbia University that enabled Project OWL to send demonstration kits to SOF units in the Department of Defense and particularly AFSOC GSU.  Conversations from that effort resulted in AFSOC GSU committing to support a successful X20A Phase II developing more capable RF DuckLink devices, flexible deployment platforms, and further integration to already deployed systems such as ATAK.   Additionally, in September 2021 Project OWL was named the national grand prize winner in the U.S. Army xTechSearch technology competition, highlighting the rapid evolution and innovative approach of Project OWL’s solution. Following a track record of successful prototype delivery, Project OWL identified commercial technology modifications from AFSOC GSU’s forming the foundation of this X22.D Phase 1 effort.  The research and development outlined in this proposal build upon the J20.1 SBIR Phase 1, and the X20.A STTR Phase 1 and 2 efforts to more effectively serve the needs of AFSOC GSU and adjacent end-users in the U.S. Air Force. This X22.D STTR Phase 1 specifically targets: Objective 1: Effect of Doppler Frequency Shifts Present for a Spaceborne Node Objective 2: Test Plans and Concept of Operations (CONOPs) for a Spaceborne Node Objective 3: Effectiveness of Firmware Improvements on Network Operations