Description:
OBJECTIVE: Develop a deployable, multi-band radio base station for use with cellular systems. 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 cellular systems, many users communicate with the base station over the air interface. The base station is generally located on a tower to provide better propagation of the signal. WCDMA repeater payloads are in development for use on balloons or unmanned aerial vehicles to provide enhanced cellular coverage in a variety of scenarios. When combined with an appropriate communications link to a deployed radio base station, a WCDMA payload would provide alternate or supplementary cellular communications using existing phones or radios. There are a multitude of aerial vehicles employing a variety of communications links. The interface to the radio base station must be capable of operating in multiple bands to ensure communications in all scenarios. The radio base station should connect to existing cellular networks to provide reach-back and enhanced functionality. The base station should provide standard, open network interfaces such as TCP/IP to ensure interoperability. Deployed base stations connecting to un-trusted networks will require the use of approved encryption devices. PHASE I: Develop a deployable, multi-band radio base station design concept(s) with 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 system Develop new multi-band interface technology concepts Predict performance parameters for the design PHASE II: Implement and demonstrate a prototype multi-band interface to a radio base station. Implement and demonstrate a prototype multi-band radio base station Evaluate measured performance characteristics versus expectations and make design adjustments as necessary. PHASE III: This phase will focus on the integration of the multi-band interface with military cellular communications system base stations 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.
