USA flag logo/image

An Official Website of the United States Government

Improved mini Ku band antenna for TCDL

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
87282 		Program Year/Program:
2009 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
A2-3775 		Solicitation Year:
2008 		Solicitation Topic Code:
A08-126 		Solicitation Number:
2008.2
Small Business Information
FIRST RF CORPORATION
4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, CO -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2009
Title: Improved mini Ku band antenna for TCDL
Agency: DOD
Contract: W911W6-09-C-0038
Award Amount: $729,947.00
 

Abstract:

Airborne communications systems such as TCDL are vulnerable to loss of link due to normal aircraft maneuvers. A dramatic need exists for an antenna system impervious to aircraft pitch and roll vectors. During Phase I, FIRST RF proposed and demonstrated a novel but simple and rugged geo-stabilization mechanism for antennas in dynamic environments. The system maintains a fixed beam despite aircraft motion. Though the system is initially targeted towards a Ku-Band TCDL antenna array aboard helicopters, the overall concept can be applied to a number of different antennas and bands. Furthermore, though the immediate platform of interest is Apache, FIRST RF has specifically designed the geo-stabilization mechanism and antenna array to fit aboard the Shadow UAV, with its reduced ground clearance and limited payload. The Phase I program involved not only detailed design and analysis, but proved the mechanical concept with a working hardware demonstration. Furthermore, an antenna array was built for the system with 9 dBi gain. The Phase II program will involve optimizing the mechanical assembly and the antenna array, and integrating the two together. The final deliverable will be a fully working system capable of a flight demonstration involving a TCDL link test aboard a helicopter.

Principal Investigator:

Farzin Lalezari
Principal Investigator
(303) 449-5211
flalezari@firstrf.com

Business Contact:

Theresa Boone
Chief Operating Officer
(303) 449-5211
tboone@firstrf.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

FIRST RF CORPORATION
4865 Sterling Drive Boulder, CO -

EIN/Tax ID: 651165101
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: Yes
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No