| DRS Technologies Inc.
Picoceptor – A revolution in small surveillance radios
BATTLESPACE Editor Julian Nettlefold interviewed Lou DeBenedetto, VP Business Development and Sales and Rob Diefes, Chief Technology Officer, DRS Signal Solutions, Inc.
Introduction
The source of technology used by DRS in the development of the Picoceptor radio came from its acquisition of the legacy Watkins Johnson defense segment in 2003.
The Watkins Johnson Company was founded in 1957 and produced telecommunications equipment and semiconductors. In the late 1960s, Watkins Johnson purchased Communications Electronics Inc. (CEI) of Gaithersburg, Maryland, which became its Communication Electronics division. Prior to this purchase, Watkins Johnson did not manufacture radios for surveillance use. Watkins Johnson receivers and telecommunication equipment is mostly used by military services and agencies. The Telecommunications Group (Division) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, was sold to Marconi, BAE Systems and Integrated Defense Technologies IDT and was finally taken over by DRS Technologies Inc. in 2003 and became DRS Signal Solutions, Inc. (DRS-SS).
DRS Signal Solutions, Inc. (DRS-SS) is the legacy of the Watkins-Johnson Company. With more than 45 years experience leading technology development for the signal intelligence community, the company has established a standard of state-of-the-art-surveillance equipment that has become the benchmark of the industry. CEI became Watkins-Johnson Company in 1971, extending its RF performance leadership in the market while introducing digital signal processing capacities into the mix. Although in today’s marketplace, many companies tout their prowess in the DSP arena, few have developed the ability to integrate that high performance DSP with RF performance of similar caliber. Watkins-Johnson Company refined the techniques for tightly integrating these two capabilities into small packages. A series of acquisitions beginning in 2000 and ending with DRS Technologies acquiring the company in 2003 saw the division renamed DRS Signal Solutions, Inc. and its commitment to providing high performance signal intelligence equipment endures.
DRS-SS has a broad product profile covering all aspects of SIGINT. Major product areas include tuners, receivers, DSP/demodulator and microwave products. DRS-SS reinvests a significant portion of its revenue back into the company in the form of internal research and development. This, in combination with extensive customer-funded research and development, maintains the company at the leading edge of technology.
DRS-SS is in a unique position to supply proof of concept technology as well as define, design and develop the small, lightweight, low power software definable radio assets necessary to address the various mission requirements. Its background in SIGINT system development provides significant insight into the problems and necessary development to achieve high performance equipment under real world conditions. Its understanding of system tier problems, combined with its extensive experience in the development of high performance software defined receivers makes it an ideal partner.
The mainstay of the surveillance receiver business has been VHF-UHF receivers. This began in the late 1950’s with 19-inch rack mounted equipment which was continually updated with technology improvements like the transition from tubes to transistors and integrated circuits. In order to select signal frequencies, the earliest receivers used direct mechanical tuning of the circuit elements driven by a front panel tuning knob. Beginning in the late 70’s operation changed from mechanical frequency tuning to automated electronic scanning under internal microprocessor control.
Development of the Picoceptor
“Can you give us a background to the development of the Picoceptor?”
“Advances in miniature electronic components as well as customer demand for smaller and lower power equipment for portable applications led to a sea change in design philosophy. With the introduction of surface mount technology and new packaging techniques, the standard rack-mount receiver was reduced in volume and power by an order of magnitude.” DeBenedetto said.
The first of these portable receivers was the “Miniceptor” surface mount VHF/UHF receiver, introduced in 1990. Later receivers like the “Microceptor” and its successor the “Nanoceptor” continued to reduce size and power, and increase frequency coverage. The latest in the series is the “Picoceptor”, the size of a cigarette packet. The old standard rack mount receiver required about 1700 cubic inches and over 100 Watts. The Picoceptor, at 13 cubic inches, fits easily in a shirt pocket and its advanced RF circuitry requires only about a Watt (for the RF portion). The Picoceptor also departs from previous portable VHF/UHF receivers in that it includes powerful digital signal processing (DSP). DSP is the newest technology to transform radio design philosophy and the Picoceptor is the first of many planned products of this type.
“What technology developments have been incorporated into Picoceptor?”
“The Picoceptor takes advantage of an FPGA-based design that provides system-on-a-chip (SOC) level integration for miniaturization, flexibility and performance. The Xilinx Virtex IV FPGA contains a PowerPC processor core running embedded Linux. The FPGA fabric hosts most of the real-time signal processing functions such as IF filtering and demodulation. The unit can be controlled via the built-in web-based graphical user interface (GUI). The USB 2.0 OTG (on-the-go) interface allows attachment of peripheral devices such as thumb drives, Ethernet devices, GPS receivers and Bluetooth modules. The USB 2.0 interface also allows direct, high-speed connectivity to a PC or laptop.”
“Are there any software radio technologies incorporated into Picoceptor?”
“The design contains sufficient RAM and flash memory to support the Linux OS and most software-definable radio (SDR) operating environments. The downloadable architecture makes it ideally suited for customer-specific applications. The embedded Linux platform appears to the user like any other PC. Users are able to transfer data into the unit via a file transfer protocol (ftp) or a telecommunications network (telnet) protocol, compile and run custom software, and control other units via the serial or GPIO interfaces. This allows the module to be used as a platform for complex digital signal processing, where small size and low power is a requirement.”
“What other applications does Picoceptor fulfill apart from signal processing?”
“Given the portability, size and flexibility of this radio it could easily be utilized as part of the Future Combat Systems Unattended Ground Sensor function. Linked together, these could form a self-forming surveillance network.”
“When do you expect to start deliveries of Picoceptor?”
“We have started initial deliveries and expect to be in full production by the end of 2008.”
“Is the export of Picoceptor covered by ITAR Restrictions?”
“Yes. However, recently we have received export licenses to demonstrate the Nanoceptor in a variety of overseas countries. We hope to get a license for the unit in those countries, which will be considered on a case by case basis by the U.S. Department of State Office of Defense Trade Controls.”
Cobham Plc.
Eagle Close Combat Radio (CCR),
Cobham plc launched the Eagle Close Combat Radio (CCR), a full-duplex networked radio specifically designed to provide a cost effective solution for modern voice and data transmission requirements in the urban, rural and mixed environments of the battlefield at DSEi in 2007
The Eagle CCR was developed by Cobham Defence Communications (CDC) and Cobham’s Era Technology and will be launched at DSEi 2007. It interfaces directly with CDC’s ROVIS (AN/VIC-3) Intercom and Integrated Digital Soldier System (IDSS) to provide customers with a fully networked, integrated voice and data capability for both mounted and dismounted soldiers.
The Eagle CCR significantly enhances Command and Control capability at Section and Squad level in comparison to current simplex systems, and allows up to six users to gain full duplex access using advanced Voice Operated Transmission (VOX). The Eagle radio is capable of transmitting data at up to 128Kbits/sec, whilst maintaining two full duplex voice channels. It also offers improved area and range coverage, via automatic Network Extension (Rebro) which is a standard feature. Integrated encryption is also in built, providing a more secure solution for stand alone voice and data communications requirements on the modern battlefield.
Despite the high level of additional functionality offered, the Eagle CCR has intuitive easy to use controls. It employs a single rotary control push button switch that provides clear precise voice prompts for function selection, available in English or local languages.
The Eagle CCR represents a step change from the more traditional simplex Combat Net Radio (CNR) handheld transceivers and the more recent simplex Personal Infantry short range radio systems, both of which suffer from inherent limitations in voice and data communications capability. The Eagle’s embedded remote CNR access enhances dismounted operations by allowing remotely selectable access to platform radios for both voice and data.
Steve Northam, Marketing Director for Cobham Defence told BATTLESPACE in August that the Eagle had taken a significant step forward in technical ability with a new range capability of 5kms, through five automatic rebroadcasts, using an ad hoc system capability. Cobham has also developed a vehicle mount for Eagle.
Cobham has completed the first deliveries to a Middle Eastern customer of over 500 radios.
Steve Northam told the Editor that Cobham would not be offering Eagle for the U.K’s FIST infantry system Requirement but is working with a major tactical communications company to deliver FIST along with partner Atkins Defence.
Thales Inc.
AN/PRC-148
The AN/PRC-148 radio is the cornerstone of a complete system solution with a common vehicular and dismounted platform. System elements include (1) a Vehicle Adapter1 with cable-free, radio dismount capability in less than 2 seconds; (2) the dual-radio AN/VRC-111 Vehicle Adapter Amplifier (20W and 50W versions available)SINCGARS replacement with SDR flexibility; (3) a Man Portable System providing more transmit power for extended range; (4) a Base Station1 which brings the flexibility of SDR to tactical fixed site applications; (5) a self-contained Tactical Repeater which provides portable and flexible range extension or cross-banding to the field; (6) a 20 watt 1.6–512 MHz (HF-->UHF) user-centric tactical Extended Band Manpack; (7) Remote Control Unit with GPS which provides a situational awareness enabler; and (8) a comprehensive line of accessories and ancillaries to support the system.
Another consideration is the Air Force’s Combat/Evader Locator (CSEL) system. Thales provides expertise for the development of products that exploit SDR technology, and one example is the design and production of the VHF/UHF transceiver module used in CSEL system. The Thales VHF/UHF transceiver module provides the CSEL radio with its communications capabilities by combining a powerful software-defined architecture and a multi-mode satellite radio on one board slightly larger than a credit card. CSEL replaces line-of-sight radios with multimode satellite radios that allow for immediate communication with downed pilots (FLTSATCOM, COBRA, SARSAT, AM Ground-to-Air). Last July, two U.S. Army pilots were rescued in Iraq, and there was a lot of media coverage about the rescue.
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