Military Distributed Array Reach-back using Time Reversal (m-DART)

Ziva proposes to develop and demonstrate a novel and powerful approach called Military Distributed Array Reach-back using Time Reversal (m-DART) which enables extension of communication range for both TX and RX in a scaled down A2/AD scenario on a small size, weight, and power (SWaP) distributed unmanned aerial system (UAS). The overall objective of m-DART Phase II/Option is to develop and demonstrate a transmit distributed coherent data communication systems between platforms moving on fast flyers (> 400 kph) using MIL radios for the local node data distribution. Challenges include: solving Doppler issues both on time transfer and retrodirective beamforming as well as autonomous operation transmissions with third party waveforms. DART enables an order of magnitude increase in reach-back distances with just 4 nodes, or enhanced data rates by coherently combining radio frequency (RF) energy from many small unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The distributed nature of DART increases system portability and survivability, while imposing a large mitigation cost to an adversary. DART significantly expands the operational space (by a factor of N^1.5) of platforms operating in an anti-access/area-denial theater and in the grey zone.