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A Revolutionary Wind and Precipitation Scanning Radar for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNG05CA96C
Agency Tracking Number: 040163
Amount: $99,424.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: T4.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-01-25
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2006-01-23
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 1092
Barnstable, MA 02630-0001
United States
DUNS: 133087192
HUBZone Owned: Yes
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 James Canniff
 Principal Investigator
 (508) 362-9400
 canniff@rmss.us
Business Contact
 James Carswell
Title: Dr
Phone: (413) 508-5474
Email: carswell@rmss.us
Research Institution
 University Of Massachusetts
 James Canniff
 
Knowles Eng Bldg
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

 (508) 362-9400
 Domestic Nonprofit Research Organization
Abstract

The technical objectives for the proposed Phase I study are:
1.Develop a compact, dual-wavelength antenna system capable of electronically scanning or producing multi-beams at different incidence angles, conical scanning and generating matched beams at both wavelengths.
2.Determine the optimal frequencies for the dual-wavelength operation that balances resolution, sensitivity, atmospheric attenuation, sea clutter contamination, size and weight. This will include conducting a brief literature review to select a model or develop a model for simulating the radar response to precipitation as a function of frequency and for a range of precipitation rates. Simulation will likely be based on Mie/Rayleigh scattering and attenuation models using a Gamma drop-size distribution shape.
3.Develop a compact, power efficient dual-frequency transceiver design that is based on surface mount RF components and low-noise monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) receivers. While custom MMICSs are available from several vendors, RSS and UMass will develop the low frequency RF and digital circuit board designs.
4.Investigate and develop compact, low-voltage power amplifier designs to produce high average power linear transmit signals. Design will need to operate unpressurized at the high altitudes typical of the Global Hawk UAV and similar aircraft.
5.Develop advance remote sensing algorithms to interpret the unique sampled data from the proposed instrument and retrieve high resolution maps the ABL winds, precipitation and ocean surface winds within tropical cyclones.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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