Phased_Array_Antenna_and_SDR_Requirementsv4.docx

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EM PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA AND SDR DIGITAL BEAMFORMING SYSTEM

I. CLIN 0001: Engineering Model 9-10 GHz Phased Antenna Array with Steerable Beam

A. GENERAL

This specification lists the requirements for a firm fixed price (FFP) contract to purchase a high performance engineering model 9-10 GHz phased antenna array with a steerable beam to the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). The antenna shall be hosted on one face of a 12U CubeSat to provide an electronically steerable beam for the collection of radio frequency (RF) data.

20cm 20cm 20cm

Figure 1: Possible array orientations for contractor to analyze and optimize

B. REQUIREMENTS

1. Contractor shall provide one engineering model phased antenna multiple-element array with steerable beam capabilities. This should be accomplished by implementing digital beamforming to shift where the gains and nulls in the RF signal occur, thereby eliminating onboard pointing for communications. The phased array shall have the following capabilities/features:

0. Operational Frequencies: 9GHz to 10GHz (tunable) (all requirements must be met over the entire range)

0. Number of antenna elements: depends on the contractor’s design, but will not have fewer than 16 or more than 20 elements. The layout of the array is also left to the contractor to determine best performance.

0. Bandwidth: 50MHz

0. Gain: > 15dBi on-axis, 3dB full angle

0. Scan Angle: free of grating lobes up to ±65°

0. Size: < 400 cm2 (dimensioned to rigidly mount to end face of 12U CubeSat, nominally 20 cm by 20 cm

0. Panel with array thickness: < 1.3 cm from external chassis wall to inside the CubeSat (Note: the entire element, including the antenna and connector mounted to the panel should be less than 1.3 cm in depth)

0. Polarization: Circular, RHCP or LHCP (Note: Axial ratio shall be no more than 3 dB)

0. Array will be physically compatible with both the Planetary Systems Corporation (PSC) specs.

PSC Specs can be found at: http://www.planetarysystemscorp.com/?post_type=product&p=448

1. The contractor shall provide measurements of far field patterns to verify specified antenna performance.

1. The contractor shall support integration and testing of antenna and digital beamforming radio to validate overall system performance.

1. Contractor shall provide a detailed interface control document (ICD), all antenna models, CAD models.

1. Even though this hardware will not fly in space, the contractor shall design this system with the intent to be capable of operating in low Earth orbit (<1000km) for an expected 2 year mission. The contractor shall select materials approved or previously used in space flight applications (e.g. NASA approved materials lists, such as NASA-STD-6016 and NASA-STD-6001).

II. CLIN 0002: 16 to 20-Channel Software Defined Radio (SDR) with Digital Beamforming

A. GENERAL

This specification lists the requirements to purchase a high performance 16 to 20-channel 9 to 10 GHz SDR (receive only) that can be housed in a 12U CubeSat capable of digital beamforming for the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).

LNB

LNB

LNB

x4-5

LNB

Beamforming Processor Baseband processor

IF A/D converter

IF A/D converter

CAL

Laptop connected via Ethernet

Figure 2: Block diagram showing all contractor provided items, except the antennas

B. REQUIREMENTS

1. Contractor shall provide one 16 to 20-channel SDR array with digital hardware and software beamforming capabilities. SDR array shall be capable of receiving radio frequency (RF) signals at X-band frequencies (9-10GHz, tunable). This system shall also be capable of digital beamforming to electronically shift gains and nulls to eliminate spacecraft onboard pointing for communications. The SDR array shall have the following capabilities/features:

5. Number of RF channels: Same as antenna elements: depends on the contractor’s design, but will not have fewer than 16 or more than 20 elements

5. Operational frequencies: 9GHz to 10GHz (tunable)

5. Bandwidth: 50MHz

5. Channel to channel coherency: 4°

5. Hardware suitable for laboratory testing of phased array antenna with digital beamforming, software compatible with Ubuntu version 14.04 CubeSat scaled flight system

5. Digital beamforming software/algorithms: capable of driving a narrowband (50MHz) arbitrary 16 to 20-element array exercising all capabilities of array

5. Interfaces: System shall interface with a laptop computer for control via 10/100/1000 Mbit Ethernet

5. Electrical power requirements: 50 Watts RMS and 64 Watts peak for unregulated 16 VDC. Keep the inrush current < 1A/µs

5. Volume: Prototype system shall fit within a 12U prototype. Design traceable to an engineering and flight model system not be larger than 4U (1U is defined as 1,000 cm3)

5. System shall have min 32 GB FLASH memory storage

5. System shall implement onboard filtering (channelization, detection, compression, etc.) to limit the size of typical transfers to the bus

5. System shall also allow for full size raw IQ dumps for special circumstances

1. SDRs shall have a built in calibration network to guarantee phase stability.

1. Contractor shall support integration and testing to validate overall system performance. Contractor shall provide technical telephone support for 1 year after delivery.

1. Contractor shall also supply supporting test code in order to demonstrate capabilities. Contractor shall provide source code.

1. Contractor shall provide a detailed interface control document (ICD) and CAD models.

1. Even though this hardware will not fly in space, the contractor shall design this system with the intent to be capable of operating in low Earth orbit (<1000km) for an expected 2 year mission. The contractor shall select materials approved or previously used in space flight applications (e.g. NASA approved materials lists, such as NASA-STD-6016 and NASA-STD-6001).

III. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The customer shall receive all components and test reports 9 months after contract award.

IV. DELIVERY AND TRAINING

The contractor shall deliver hardware in person to AFIT at WPAFB, OH. The contractor shall provide up to 5 days of on-site training and test evaluation to assist in the operation of the phased array no later than 30 days after delivery.

V. WARRANTY

Free from defects in material and workmanship, under normal and proper use in accordance with instructions in the contractor supplied Interface Control Document (ICD) for the period of time of one year after receipt.

VI. PAYMENTS

Payment will be made following delivery and receipt of the hardware and completion of on-site training and test evaluation. One payment will be made per CLIN.