MINIATURE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) DIGITAL TRANSLATOR DEVELOPMENT

GPS TRANSLATORS ARE CURRENTLY USED ON A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS FOR INSTRUMENTING MISSILE TESTS. TRANSLATORS ALLOW HIGH-DYNAMIC VEHICLES TO BE TRACKED THROUGH ACCELERATIONS UP TO 50 GS WHILE MINIMIZING THE SIZE, WEIGHT, AND COST OF THE EXPENDABLE FLIGHT HARDWARE. THE ANALOG NATURE OF EXISTING TRANSLATORS PREVENTS ENCRYPTION OF THE DOWNLINK SIGNAL AND REQUIRES HIGHLY COMPLEX AND COSTLY GROUND STATIONS. THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE CURRENT TRANSLATORS PROHIBIT THEIR USE ON MANY APPLICATIONS. THE RAJPO BALLISTIC MISSILE TRANSLATOR (BMT) IS 40 CUBIC INCHES AND WEIGHS 5 POUNDS. UNDER THIS CONTRACT A MINIATURIZED DIGITAL TRANSLATOR WILL BE DEVELOPED. THE DIGITAL TRANSLATOR DESIGN TAKES ADVANTAGE OF CURRENT DIGITAL DEVICES TO FUNCTIONALLY SIMPLIFY THE GPS SIGNAL TRANSLATION. THE RESULTING DIGITAL DOWNLINK SIGNAL IS READABLY ENCRYPTABLE AND SUPPORTS THE DOWNLINK OF IRU OR TELEMETRY DATA. USING THIS APPROACH, A LOW-COST MINIATURE DIGITAL TRANSLATOR CAN BE DEVELOPED THAT CAN BE PACKAGED IN 4.25" X 2" X 0.5" (5 CUBIC INCHES) AND WEIGHS ONLY 10 OUNCES. THE TRANSLAOR CAN BE POWERED USING FOUR LITHIUM/MANGANESE DIOXIDE BATTERIES WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A FURTHER 2 CUBIC INCHES OF VOLUME AND WEIGH LESS THAN 2.5 OUNCES. THE LOW-COST, SMALL SIZE, AND LIGHT WEIGHT OF THE MINIATURE DIGITAL TRANSLATOR WILL MAKE IT IDEAL FOR USE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL TRACKING APPLICATIONS. THESE INCLUDE DOD MISSILE TRACKING PROGRAMS, RADIOSONDES, SMALL PROJECTILES, SUCH AS BRILLIANT PEBBLES, AND SPACE-BASED SYSTEMS. THE DIGITAL DESIGN APPROACH SUPPORTS DATA ENCRYPTION, IRU DATA INCORPORATION, AND SIGNAL RECEPTION AT CONVENTIONAL TELEMETRY FACILITIES.