ROME LABORATORY'S DRAFT FY98 SBIR TOPICS PART 2 OF 10. ROME LABORATORY'S DRAFT FY 98 SBIR TOPICS. ROME LABORATORY IS PLEASED TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING DRAFT SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATIVE RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM TOPICS. THESE TOPICS ARE NOT APPROVED AS YET AND ALL MAY NOT APPEAR IN THE FINAL SOLICITATION: SBIR TOPIC #AF98-110. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Eugene C. Blackburn, RL/ERD (315) 330-2945. TITLE: Aging Predictions of Electronic Components Used Within the Guidance System of ICBMs (Minuteman and Peacekeeper). CATEGORY: Engineering Development. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07. SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Develop and implement an innovative and cost effective method of predicting the aging parameters of Electronic Components used within the guidance systems of the Minuteman and Peacekeeper missiles. DESCRIPTION: Reliability Engineering Teams have been formed by the Government to analyze data involved in the stress analysis of failed components within the individual weapon system's guidance packages. Nothing has been done to predict the longevity of components used within the existing system. Only Manufacturer's Specifications and MIL-STD parameters exist at this time to establish a basis for the analysis. Reliability analysis appears to be incomplete without the aging prediction capability that a small business could add to this picture. Parts obsolescence is a critical issue in affecting the longevity of the system. Cost payback analysis is a key feature in determining this longevity, and age prediction statistics become paramount. A need for prediction of aging of these components is a necessary input into the total analysis for determining when a system or subsystem should be replaced. It could also be used to predict degradation of reliability more accurately. PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of prediction of aging of electronic components. Apply these calculations to known parameters for parts substitution for future procurements. Demonstrate a methodology to infer system reliability from component again affects. PHASE II: Implement this demonstrated approach to predict reliability degradation in Peacekeeper and Minuteman guidance systems due to electronic component aging. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Aging predictions can be used to anticipate replacement timing when it is most cost effective to do so. This could be applied to electronic systems that have a long intended lifetime, such as commercial satellites and other investment electronics. KEYWORDS: Reliability, Analysis, Repair, Longevity, Aging, ICBM. SBIR TOPIC #AF98-111. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Peter J. Radesi, RL/C3BA (315) 330-1466. TITLE: Data Link Control Protocol. CATEGORY: Applied Research. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07. SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Develop a data link control protocol for satellite systems. DESCRIPTION: Military data networks supporting communications between computers are expanding. Local area networks (LANs) are being interconnected to form wide area networks (WANs) using satellite systems. The standard networking protocols in use by the commercial-off-the-shelf computers and networking equipment do not tolerate the bit error rates (BERs) and delays that are typical of satellite links. This results in the inefficient use of satellite resources. The challenge for the innovator is to develop a data link control protocol that will work with the current Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networking protocols or future Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) protocols and allow these protocols to operate efficiently over satellite links. PHASE I: The contractor shall design a data link control protocol and identify the protocol's interaction with military standard (TCP/IP) networking protocols. The contractor shall also perform analyses/ simulation comparing satellite resource use when the data link control protocol is in use and when only standard networking protocols are in use. PHASE II: The contractor shall write software that operates on a personal computer that intercepts IP packets on a LAN interface and routes IP packets not addressed locally to a serial interface port. The software shall be capable of encapsulating the IP packet into the data link control protocol or the standard point-to-point protocol before sending the IP from the serial data port. In addition, the contractor shall perform system tests/simulations (with Air Force assistance) over at least two military satellite systems, Milstar and one transponded system such as DSCS. The tests/simulations shall confirm the efficiency increases documented by the analyses conducted in Phase I. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Commercial satellite communications providers are entering the computing market and are also struggling with the problem of efficient use of satellite resources for network connectivity using standard networking protocols. The development of a new efficient data link control protocol would benefit both commercial satellite and networking service providers. KEYWORDS: Satellite Communications, Networking, Protocols, Data Link, Bit Error Rates, Control Protocol, TCP/IP Protocols, Personal Computers, ATM Protocols. SBIR TOPIC #AF98-112. TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Dr. Boris Tomasic, RL/ERAA. (617) 377-2055. TITLE: Low Interference Cross-Polarization Phased Array Radiating Elements. CATEGORY: Applied Research. DOD CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: B07. SERVICE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA: AF1. OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate low interference cross polarized phased array antenna operating at wide scan angles. DESCRIPTION: Phased arrays for mobile platforms operating over commercial Ku-band satellites is of interest to the Government. Frequency reuse environments require good cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) from the terminal antenna in order to minimize interference. Generally, element XPD degrades in phased array antennas as the angle of scan increases from broadside. The dual-linear polarization tracking process could be simplified if XPD were improved. The radiating element is a major contributor to the cross-polarization interference.This challenge exists not only for dual-linear polarization, but also for dual-circular polarization. PHASE I: The contractor will identify candidate dual circular- and dual linear-polarized radiating elements. Wave guide radiating elements and printed circuit elements will be considered as well as other potential high XPD elements. Wide-angle impedance matching surfaces and innovative element feeds will be evaluated for improving cross-polarization discrimination of the radiating elements at large scan angles. Radiating elements will be compared as to cost, performance and complexity and candidates selected for Phase II fabrication. PHASE II: The contractor shall fabricate two 16-element phased arrays based on the dual linear- and circular-polarized elements selected from the work in Phase I. A beam steering controller will position the main beam of each phased array. The contractor shall measure the XPD of each phased array to a scan angle of 70 degrees in a laboratory environment. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: This technology would be useful for any application requiring commercial satellite communications from mobile platforms. It will likely be scalable to other frequency bands. KEYWORDS: Satellite Communications, Phased Array Antenna, Cross-Polarization, Element XPD, Dual-Linear, Dual-Circular, Radiating Elements, Interference. Margot Ashcroft, SBIR Program Manager, RL/XPD, 315-330-1793, Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, RL/PKPX, 315-330-2308.

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