CNO - Antennas & Electronic Systems

antennas & electronic systems division (aesd)

The Antennas and Electronic Systems Division (AESD) of ARL's Communications and Navigation Office develops advanced technologies focused on the transmission, reception, characterization, simulation, and test & evaluation of radio frequency signals. AESD projects span the gamut of research and development, ranging from basic research in antenna structures and RF propagation to the development of advanced prototype systems for the collection and characterization of RF signals.

Key areas of expertise in AESD include:

Antenna Design, Simulation, and Analysis
Numerical Optimization
Radio Frequency Mission Planning
Urban Propagation
Science & Technology Development for Test Evaluation
Pattern Recognition
And Many Other Areas

AESD is organized into the following focus areas:

Comp. Electromagnetics
Systems Dev.
App. Comm. Tech.
Algorithms & Analysis

Mission:
The Computational Electromagnetics (CE) Department performs research and development across a wide range of topics relating to antennas and RF propagation.

Key areas of expertise:
The CE Department has ongoing research and support programs focusing on all aspects of antennas and propagation, including: novel array structures, metamaterials, wide band antennas, radar cross section reduction and enhancement, numerical optimization, numerical modeling of electromagnetic systems, and novel antenna designs. In addition, the CE Department performs high-fidelity modeling and simulation of all types of RF engagements for a variety of customers.

Thrust Areas:

Modeling and experimental verification of electromagnetic systems.
Novel metamaterials for electromagnetics (in partnership with the Penn State Materials Research Laboratory and Materials Research Institute.
High fidelity, end-end modeling and simulation of RF scenarios, including antennas, systems, and propagation

TSA Elements
Tapered Slot Array Elements

TSA Integrated
Tapered Slot Array

Rottman Lens

Mission Statement
The mission of the Systems Development department is twofold. First, to provide the Communications & Navigation Office with analysis, synthesis, prototyping, and integration support across the wide range of office technologies. Secondly, the department provides original research and development, prototyping and integration to the electromagnetic, communications, and EW communities, both military and commercial.

Key areas of expertise
Current Systems Development Department tasking includes projects relating to:

Communications Systems
End-to-End Propagation Analysis
RF Mission Planning Tools
Air-Land-Sea Deployed RF systems
Antenna/RF system development
Antenna Integration

Growth Competencies
A key area being actively pursued is the design and implementation of RF mission planning tools by integrating RF propagation electromagnetic simulators with GIS (graphical information systems) user interfaces. In particular, this integration will result in scenario-specific urban propagation models, tuned to the precise characteristics of the urban area of interest.

Thrust Areas
The Systems Development Department is actively engaged in a wide range of Communications system concepts, RF analysis, modeling & simulation, and prototype development. We are dedicated to the application of theory and fundamental principles to solve real world problems. Producing field testable prototypes is our primary goal.

Optimized Urban Propagation Modeling

Fading Model Graph

CEECITE PEP
Scenario Driven, Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation


Mission Statement The Applied Communication Technology (ACT) Department performs a wide range of services relating to Communication Systems Research, Development, Testing, Evaluation and Education (RDTE&E) in support of our DoD and commercial sponsors. Our goal is to create a department that expands and strengthens ARL’s core capabilities in the research, development and application of critical technologies in support of next generation Government and commercial communication. ACT also maintains and operates the PSU Warminster Anechoic Chamber. This chamber is one of the largest of its kind (also see the facilities webpage) and is particularly well-suited for low frequency antenna characterization (100 Mhz), customized R&D, fabrication and full-scale system testing in a fully controlled environment for its customers, sponsors, and industrial partners to analyze the entire end-to-end design of a communication system.
Key Areas of Expertise Available in the Following Specialties: Tactical Data Links Antenna and Radar Cross Section (RCS) Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility (EMI/EMC) Mobile Communication Systems Ground Based Communication System Hand-held Radios Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Satellite Based Communication Links Antenna Characterization High Bandwidth Data Transmission Wireless Networking Bench test of RF Link Monitoring System	DF Array Under Test
Growth Competencies The ACT Department is focused on leveraging the expertise of the AESD Computational Electromagnetics Department and the Penn State Department of Electrical Engineering to develop a world-class antenna test and evaluation capability at the Warminster Anechoic Chamber. Thrust Areas Warminster Anechoic Chamber / Antenna T&E DoD Communication Systems Engineering
Facilities The Act department operates and maintains a large Anechoic Chamber. 100 ft long x 40 ft wide x 40 ft high Welded steel construction Shielded enclosure to provide -100 db isolation Designed for testing 100 MHz to 100 GHz 3 floors, 2,400 sq ft of climate controlled laboratory space 20x20 ft door provides large UAV, vehicle friendly access to the chamber Chamber Applications Antenna Characterization RF Measurements requiring a reflection-free environment System level testing and Integration, end-to-end Analyses GPS, VHF/UHF/SAT COM, Cellular Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility (EMI/EMC) Radio Interoperability, Test and Evaluation Software Defined Radio Antenna installation & location studies on: Aircraft, Ships, Vehicles - scale, partial, and full scale mockups UAV - scale and full size Computer Aided Design (CAD) Representations Available For: RF Prediction Modeling & Analyses Result Verification CAD Floor Plan Available For: Test Planning Project Planning Configuration	ACT Anechoic Chamber

Mission Statement
The mission of the Algorithms and Analysis Department is to employ our advanced signal processing and systems engineering skills to solve hard problems in atmospheric and undersea capability development, test, and evaluation.

Key Areas of Expertise
The Algorithms and Analysis Department has demonstrated expertise and ongoing tasking in the following areas:

Signal processing (acoustic and electromagnetic)
Supervised and unsupervised clustering
Pattern recognition
Product test and evaluation (T&E)
System engineering and prototype development
Complex field test design and execution

SEPARAT Graphic
The SEPARAT Toolkit encapsulates extensive pattern recognition capabilities

Growth Competencies
The Algorithms and Analysis department is establishing itself as a leader in the areas of Pattern Recognition systems and product Test and Evaluation. Key relationships have been developed with military and commercial partners.

Thrust Areas
The Algorithms and Analysis department is actively engaged in a wide range of system concepts, signal processing, pattern recognition, and prototype development. We are dedicated to the application of theory and fundamental principles to solve real world problems. Producing field testable prototypes is our primary goal. Key thrust areas include:

Science and Technology support to DoD Test & Evaluation
Applications of Pattern Recognition technology to hard problems in RF and acoustic signal processing