Description:
OBJECTIVE: Develop algorithm(s) necessary to enable WCDMA service between rapidly moving platforms and radio base stations. DESCRIPTION: The loss of a single communications link should not lead to disaster for our war fighters. Diverse communications paths are required to ensure war fighters can communicate in a variety of austere scenarios. Technologies that enable links via multiple (ground, air, and/or space) communications layers are highly encouraged. Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) is the latest generation of cellular phone technology and is being adopted for commercial, government, and military mission critical systems. In commercial cellular systems, many users communicate with the base station over the air interface. The base station is in a fixed location, usually on a tower, to provide better propagation of the signal. Miniaturized, ruggedized WCDMA payloads will soon be deployed (separate from this SBIR topic) for use on satellites or UAVs to provide enhanced cellular coverage in a variety of scenarios. Beyond state of the art research is required to develop innovative new algorithms to enable WCDMA based radios to overcome many challenges not encountered on ground based systems. Rapid movement of users and radio base stations will create significantly different and rapidly changing coverage geometries than is seen in traditional systems. Another challenge is the fact that the radio base station the user is communicating with may be moving at a relatively high speed in relation to the user, presenting Doppler and other effects at both ends of the link. Innovative research and development is required to develop algorithms to enable WCDMA use in next generation communications capabilities. State of the art WCDMA algorithms would enable alternate or supplementary cellular communications using existing phones or radios. Areas of temporary congestion, such as stadiums and parks could be augmented with additional coverage at low cost. The system could provide emergency communications in the event of natural disasters where ground based cell towers are damaged. Satellite based WCDMA systems could be deployed in innovative arrangements such as the Molniya orbit. PHASE I: Develop WCMDA algorithms to enable service between rapidly moving users and radio base stations in a scenario such as a satellite in a Molniya orbit. Perform analytical or numerical calculations to establish performance possibilities. Translate design concepts into a product development roadmap establishing a technical and program pathway to an operational capability demonstration. Tasks under this phase could include: Create an initial design of a prototype algorithms Develop new WCDMA algorithm concepts Predict performance parameters PHASE II: Implement and demonstrate algorithms in a laboratory environment. Implement and demonstrate prototype algorithms Evaluate measured performance characteristics versus expectations and make design adjustments as necessary. PHASE III: This phase will focus on the integration of the algorithms with WCDMA payloads and interfacing with the military cellular communications systems such as the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Areas of temporary congestion, such as stadiums and parks could be augmented with additional coverage at low cost. The system could provide emergency communications in the event of natural disasters where ground based cell towers are damaged.
