System Solutions
Custom Three-Tier Architecture
Most modern radio-frequency systems embody a three-tier superheterodyne architecture: an RF front end (RFFE) comprising antennas, amplification stages and beamforming circuits, up/down frequency conversion (UDC) stages, and a MODEM or software-defined radio (SDR) back end that generates, controls, processes, transmits, and receives application-specific waveforms. EMAG Tech has developed versatile modules and architectures for each tier that can easily scale up or down at different frequency bands and accommodate different power levels. Each tier’s architecture is customized to meet the particular needs of your system application. For instance, polarization and bandwidth requirements influence the selection of antenna element type at the top of the RFFE. Or separate UDC’s can be accommodated to support multiple independent phase centers for the aperture.
Our AESA technology provides a flexible RFFE solution with adaptive real-time beamforming capabilities. Our UDC architectures translate the signal frequency from an L- or S-band intermediate frequency (IF) to C, X, Ku, K and Ka bands. We have also developed FPGA-based SDR architectures with enhanced waveforms to accommodate a host of communication, radar and sensing applications. Both the SDR hardware and the waveform are customized and hardened to perform in different types of operational environments including nuclear fading, plasma, ultra-high temperatures and space radiation. Most space-based systems require circularly polarized antennas and system operability at extreme cold and hot temperatures as well as a certain level of radiation tolerance by the onboard active devices, transceivers, microcontrollers and FPGA’s.
EMAG AESA Communication Systems
Effective secure point-to-point communications require high-gain directional antennas on both ends of a link. Properly pointed fixed-beam antenna arrays can serve this purpose on fixed communication nodes. The situation becomes intractable in the case of mobile nodes as the direction of the vehicle, aircraft or marine vessel constantly changes over time. The solution is a beam-steerable antenna array that can track the position of the opposite node at the other end of the link. EMAG Tech has developed compact optimal-SWaP communication system architectures with beamforming and tracking capability for aerial, satellite and terrestrial platforms. Our SDR architectures utilize the latest FPGA technologies to cater advanced turbo coding and interleaving schemes for more challenging mobile communication scenarios. Our digital AESA beam controller is integrated within the communication SDR’s FPGA fabric, enabling a highly adaptive streamlined operation.
EMAG AESA Radar Systems
Most types of radar systems such as search and tracking radars, moving target indicator (MTI) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) require high-gain antennas with precision beam pointing capability. In applications like satellite-based SAR imaging which require premium SWaP performance, EMAG Tech’s AESA systems offer a superior alternative to mechanically steered parabolic reflector antennas. Our radar SDR generates pulsed linear FM (chirp) waveforms with pulse-to-pulse parameter control, including software-reconfigurable pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The chirp signal is up-converted to the RF frequency of our AESA aperture, which transmits the chirp and also receives and collects the echo return from the target. Our UDC down-converts the received signal to the IF frequency of the SDR, where it is de-chirped for target detection. Our digital AESA beam controller is integrated within the radar SDR’s FPGA fabric, enabling a highly adaptive streamlined operation.
Operating in Harsh Environments
Environmental Testing
EMAG Tech can customize AESA-based communication and radar systems to perform at harsh operational environments such as high-density hypersonic plasma, and on-orbit, deep-space, ultra-high-temperatures or rough ocean surface environments. We have built several plasma environment generators with RF power levels up to 10 kW that can generate very high electron densities. Both inductively coupled and capacitively coupled plasma environments can be generated and characterized using our state-of-the-art Langmuir probe system. These chambers are used to test and characterize the performance of our antenna arrays and communication or radar waveforms in real plasma environments with controlled parameters.
Harsh Environment Modeling & Simulation
Testing RF systems in real harsh operating environments especially those involving hypersonic flight experiments can be very costly and logistically very demanding. Computer simulation can provide an alternative option if the underlying multiphysics phenomenology is thoroughly understood, and a proper simulation plan is carefully crafted. EMAG has developed a comprehensive simulation capability for analysis of RF systems in harsh operational environments including plasmas. Our multiphysics solvers cover and integrate electromagnetic, mechanical, thermal, fluid dynamic, magnetohydrodynamic and space radiation physics simulation domains.
Radome Protection and Packaging
In order to protect the antenna aperture and active devices underneath it from adverse environmental effects, a radome structure with RF-transparent properties is needed. EMAG Tech has developed antenna architectures with ultra-high-temperature ceramic (UHTC) radomes and thermal protection systems (TPS). These include special mechanisms for the attachment of the RF window to the body of the flight vehicle. Our experimental facilities feature a thermal cycling chamber that covers the industrial temperature range of -40°C to +85°C, a muffle oven with a temperature range up to 1650°C, and an upcoming thermal vacuum chamber with a temperature range of -100°C to +220°C that can reach a vacuum level of 10-6 Torr.
Space Radiation Effects & Hardening
Most satellite communication and radar payloads positioned at low-earth orbits (LEO), Medium & High Elliptical Orbits (MEO & HEO) as well as Geostationary orbits (GEO) are subject to the bombardment of energetic space charged particles such as those originating from the solar wind. These satellites must protect their sensitive components with adequate shielding if they spend significant time near radiation belt zones. High dosages of radiation can disrupt the operation of amplifiers, beamformers, microcontrollers, FPGA’s, and so on. EMAG Tech can perform statistical analysis of the potential radiation hazards at various orbits and develop mitigation and hardening strategies consisting of the right combination of shielding, selection of radiation-tolerant components and processors and fault-tolerant system schemes such as triple modular redundancy (TMR). Several factors including the severity of radiation impact, schedule and cost sensitivity, system complexity, mission lifetime, etc. can influence the choice and balance of hardening schemes.
Our Process
Design & Prototyping
Each EMAG communication or radar solution begins with understanding your specific requirements. Our design process is collaborative, innovative, and flexible, ensuring that our delivered AESA-based RF system exceeds expectations while meeting operational requirements.
Seamless Integration
The integration of our communication payloads and radars into your existing systems is a smooth and streamlined process, performed by our experienced engineering team. We ensure that our AESA-based RF system is not only physically compatible but also aligns seamlessly with your system’s architecture.
Characterization
Through our network of suppliers and printed circuit board manufacturers, EMAG Tech has the capacity to produce end-to-end communication and radar systems at small to medium volumes. All of our manufactured systems are thoroughly inspected, tested and characterized in our own facilities based on a mutually-agreed-upon test and qualification plan.
Our Collaborative Process
“To our customers we are more of a technology partner than a supplier.”
Step 1: Design & Prototyping
Each EMAG communication or radar solution begins with a thorough understanding of your specific functional and technical requirements. These are captured through a meticulous but fast-paced requirements analysis effort. Our design process is collaborative, innovative, flexible, and ultimately interactive and customer-centric. Our engineers first utilize state-of-the-art simulation and design software to conceive the system concept in the virtual space.
Rapid prototyping tools and resources are then utilized to construct and demonstrate a quick-turnaround proof-of-concept hardware implementation. Preliminary and Critical design reviews (PDR/CDR) are carefully planned to ensure our delivered AESA-based RF systems exceed expectations while meeting all the operational requirements.
Step 2: System Integration & Verification
Integration of our communication payload and radar into your existing system is a smooth and streamlined process, performed by our experienced engineering team. Extensive use of computer simulation is made to predict the performance of the planned mechanical and thermal packaging schemes in the virtual space before committing to the manufacturing of the final delivery articles. We ensure our AESA-based RF system to not only be physically compatible but also align seamlessly with your system’s architecture. EMAG Tech has the capability of conducting comprehensive laboratory and field testing using our in-house anechoic chamber and microwave/RF measurement lab as well as outside resources. EMAG engineers have carried out numerous over-the-air (OTA), ground, tower, drone and aircraft flight tests to demonstrate communication link connectivity, verify radar sensitivity, and generate SAR images in realistic operational environments. Our antennas and array systems have also been tested in actual sea environment settings.
Step 3: Manufacturing
Seamless Integration
The integration of our communication payloads and radars into your existing systems is a smooth and streamlined process, performed by our experienced engineering team. We ensure that our AESA-based RF system is not only physically compatible but also aligns seamlessly with your system’s architecture.
Our Process
Design & Prototyping
Seamless Integration
Characterization
Industry Applications
Let’s Get to Work
Contact us today to discuss how our AESA technology can meet your operational needs. Join us in shaping the future of low-cost, high-performance, RF front ends.
Let’s work together
- 1.800.996.3624
- collaborate@emagtech.com
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