SBIR-STTR Award

Syntonics proposes to develop the Staring Projectile Detection Radar (SPiDR) for helicopters. SPiDR is an ultra wideband (UWB) "noise" radar that stares at an approximately 3 GHz wide portion of the 6-30 GHz band. SPiDR detects incoming and near-miss projectiles ranging from slow RPGs to fast rifle bullets. SPiDR uses existing radar and signal processing electronic concepts that have already been successfully demonstrated. Staring UWB noise radar are lightweight, elegantly simple, intrinsically low cost/low power devices that use low probability-of-detection (LPD) spread-spectrum radio frequency signals to detect and range on objects. Using LPD signals at power levels comparable to the environmental RF noise floor means the radar can operate without detectable electronic signature. SPiDR’s detection and ranging technique is intrinsically immune to helicopter vibration and maneuvering. SPiDR’s radar modules are small and can be mechanically integrated in a variety of ways including as conformal patches on the helicopter’s fuselage alongside existing threat sensors, or as a single multi-sided squat pyramid under the helicopter. Integrating SPiDR’s user interface with the AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning System or Advanced Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AASE) should be feasible.

Keywords:
Uwb Radar, Spread Spectrum Radar, Noise Radar, Projectile Detection, Helicopter, Threat Warning

We are prototyping a helmet-integrated system for personal hostile fire detection (HFD). The system detects small arms fire and geo-locates the shooter(s). This project to develop a Mark 1 prototype is conceived as the first of three efforts to create a mature system that meets the sponsors objective specifications. ---------- Syntonics has demonstrated the feasibility of the Staring Projectile Detection Radar (SPiDR). SPiDR is a stealthy, ultra wideband (UWB) ?noise? radar system. In Phase II we will design and fabricate a multi-channel SPiDR prototype system with detection range of at least 100-m (300-m objective). Progressively realistic laboratory and live fire tests are performed with various projectiles to evaluate the performance of the prototype SPiDR system. The Phase II prototype meets or exceeds all requirements of the SBIR topic including size, weight, power, and range. Staring UWB noise radar are lightweight, elegantly simple, intrinsically low cost/low power devices that use low probability-of-interception (LPI) spread-spectrum radio frequency signals to detect and range on objects. Using LPI signals at power levels comparable to the environmental RF noise floor means SPiDR operates without a detectable electronic signature (!). SPiDR?s detection and ranging technique is intrinsically immune to helicopter vibration and maneuvering. SPiDR?s radar modules are small and can be mechanically integrated in a variety of ways including as conformal patches on the helicopter?s fuselage or as a single multi-sided squat pyramid under the helicopter. Integrating SPiDR?s user interface with the AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning System or Advanced Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AASE) is feasible.

Keywords:
Radar, Ultra Wideband Radar, Noise Radar, Hostile Fire Detection, Bullet Detection, Sniper Detection, Advanced Aircraft Survivability Equipment, Aase