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Future Directions for Multifunction RF Electronics Technology
The Office of Naval Research, code 31, and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, Microsystems Technology Office hosted the Future Directions for Multifunction RF Electronics Technology Workshop on November 19-21, 2003 in Arlington, VA
Scope
This highly interactive workshop was planned with senior technologists and system engineers, to explore the current status and future opportunities for innovative electronic components, circuits, and architectures that can have a high degree of impact on future RF systems for the DoD. An example of such an architecture is the Advanced Multifunction RF Concept (AMRFC) wherein multiple simultaneous signals will be transmitted/received from a common aperture in such a manner that each signal is given independent control as to its bearing, elevation, bandwidth, frequency, power, and modulation type. Component technologies covered, included (but were not limited to) state-of-the-art (SOA) direct digital synthesizers (DDS), analog to digital converters (ADC), power DACs, transmit and receive amplifiers, filters, channelizers, isolators, multibeam forming networks, ultra stable clocks, and rf photonic links. The workshop included presentations and discussions of new system architectures, enabling new device and circuit designs, signal processing, integration, cost modeling and affordability as well as projected impacts. Contractors supporting existing ONR and DARPA electronics technology programs as well as AF, Army and other DoD / university / industry researchers/developers were encouraged to apply to participate.
Expectations
ONR and DARPA are interested in advances leading to the development and demonstration of critical electronic technology items that when properly integrated can demonstrate the ability to enhance the performance of versatile multifunction digitally programmable electronically scanned arrays or other critical DoD RF systems. Teams were formed in breakout sessions between industry, government, and academia to brainstorm on future opportunities to exploit the integration of enabling device concepts, signal processing, and versatile affordable architectures. Various new or accelerated thrust areas were expected to be heuristically developed and critiqued. At a minimum, participants were prepared to discuss aspects of the tradeoffs between component performance, architectural viability, and cost for new component or architecture concepts. Priority was given to innovative ideas for combining devices into circuits or subarrays which achieve the highest performance at lowest cost, and to approaches to transition these technologies into systems. The out come of the workshop was expected to influence ONR's and DARPA/MTO's future program development in the areas of RF technology and system architectures.
Workshop Procedural Objectives
- To bring together DoD, academic, and industrial personnel to develop new approaches to address existing and contemplated RF requirements
- To provide the information necessary for ONR/DARPA to develop viable new RF program thrusts.