SBIR-STTR Award

We propose development of a software capability which, based on use of MathSysaccurate and efficient exact-physics computational electromagnetics (CEM) solvers, will enable modeling and optimization of the properties of on-platform pRFID tag/reader antenna systems. Passive Radio Frequency Identification devices (pRFID) mounted on complex rotorcrafts pose challenging modeling problems: since pRFID power outputs are often at least three orders of magnitude below the reader's signal power, modeling of such setups requires use of solvers that can produce numerical solutions with several digits of accuracy. And, for RFID operating at frequencies at of 2.5 GHz or higher, for example, the electrical size of the platform on which the RFID tag-reader system is mounted can be hundreds of wavelengths in size. Such modeling requirements and constraints exceed the capabilities of all currently available software modeling and simulation tools. While computationally inexpensive, ray-tracing based methods can, at best, serve as an ``informed guess'' and are unable to provide sufficient accuracy in complex multipath scattering environments. The proposed extension of MathSys solvers will enable effective simulation the highly challenging pRFID-in-rotorcraft configurations throughout the relevant range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Benefit:
Our effort will produce a software solution for users of simulation tools for which the limitations implicit in existing solvers represent a significant handicap. These include the military, (Navy, Navy, and Army) as well as commercial concerns (air-framers, space research agencies, remote sensing and medical imaging developers, etc). Thus, there is a significant market for the proposed improved innovative solutions in high-tech industry, and in pursuing the present project MathSys Inc. seeks to cater to that need. The PDE software needs of large high-tech companies, government labs and DoD (such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman,NASA, DoD agencies, etc.) are massive. MathSys Inc. is well positioned to cater to the needs of such entities, and has open ties at key levels of such organizations. We are certain that the successful completion of the development effort described in this text will find manifold uses and it will generate significant business opportunities for our company.

Keywords:
Antenna, Antenna, RFID, Multipath, pRFID, Signals, Computational Electromagnetics

We propose development of a software capability which, based on use of accurate and efficient exact-physics computational electromagnetics (CEM) solvers together with CAD-import (Computer Aided Design) and direct CAD-to-EM capabilities, will enable optimization of the properties of on-platform pRFID tag/reader antenna systems. For accuracy and modeling flexibility the proposed codes are based on MathSys'fast, high-order frequency--domain algorithms in conjunction with a number of highly significant innovations. The resulting solvers will accurately and efficiently simulate generation,propagation and scattering of waves within and around complex rotorcraft structures -- while accounting in a physically exact manner for scattering, transmission and absorption by complex metallic,dielectric and magnetic structures, as required for accurate modeling of pRFID tag/reader systems.

Benefit:
Our effort will produce a software solution for users of simulation tools for which the limitations implicit in existing solvers represent a significant handicap. These include the military, (Navy, Navy, and Army) as well as commercial concerns (air-framers, space research agencies, remote sensing and medical imaging developers, etc). Thus, there is significant market for the proposed improved innovative solutions in high-tech industry, and in pursuing the present project MathSys Inc. seeks to cater to that need. The PDE software needs of large high-tech companies, government labs and DoD (such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman,NASA, DoD agencies, etc.) are massive. MathSys Inc. is well positioned to cater to the needs of such entities, and has open ties at key levels of such organizations. We are certain that the successful completion of the development effort described in this text will find manifold uses and it will generate significant business opportunities for our company.

Keywords:
pRFID, Antenna, Computational Electromagnetics, Signals, RFID, Multipath