In a groundbreaking collaboration that has set the scientific community abuzz, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and The Ohio State University have developed a revolutionary radio frequency (RF) technique called "Transform Sensing." This innovative approach, patented as United States Patent #11,796,664 B2, was born from months of experimentation in 2016 by engineers Robert Ewing, PhD., David Brendel, Yuan Zheng, PhD., and Siyang Cao.
Transform Sensing is a game-changer for phased array radars (PARs), which boast an array of transmitting elements that can create intriguing patterns and receive transmissions in a controllable manner. These PARs, consisting of hundreds to thousands of antennas, can change directions in a blink of an eye, making them invaluable for radar applications. However, they face the risk of interference, which can weaken the signal and lead to inaccurate readings. Transform Sensing tackles this challenge head-on!
This novel technique allows for arbitrary control of the geometries emitted from the array, offering exciting possibilities for countermeasures or electronic warfare applications. Imagine being able to predict and counter a target's movements with surgical precision – that's the power of Transform Sensing!
But that's not all. Transform Sensing also eliminates the issue of redundant sensing, a common problem in conventional PARs. By sensing the entire scene at once, this technique saves time and increases efficiency, making it a valuable tool for various applications.
The potential uses for Transform Sensing are vast and varied, ranging from electronic warfare to remote sensing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on satellites. It could even revolutionize medical imaging, providing clearer and faster results. The team behind this innovation is thrilled to contribute to the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and the DoD's mission, keeping the warfighter at the forefront of their efforts.
In an exclusive interview, David Brendel, an independent contractor involved in the project, shared his insights on the development of Transform Sensing. "Transform sensing applies to specifically phased array radars (PARs)," Brendel explained. "It could be applied to the other types of sensing technologies. But, these days, PARs have a series of transmitting elements that are lined up in a geometry such that we can create interesting patterns on the transmission and receive other transmissions in a somewhat controllable fashion."
PARs are anywhere from hundreds to thousands of antennas controlled electronically, very beneficial for radar applications, and can change directions in less than a second. However, there is a risk of interference which can reduce the strength of the signal and lead to inaccurate readings. A technique called beamforming can improve accuracy by adjusting the phase relationship between the antennas and can essentially direct a signal to a specific point in any direction without changing the positions of the antennas. PARs have several highly valuable uses to the Department of Defense (DoD) from tracking enemy vessels at sea to protecting ground troops from incoming missiles. In the era of drone warfare, the necessity of PAR technology has never been greater.
However, as instances of RF bandwidth limitations increase, this newly patented technique is looked at as an improvement in RF phase array sensing performance. "What transform sensing does is provide us with a way to control the geometries of what is emitted from that array in an arbitrary fashion," Brendel said. "You could hypothetically apply this method to some kind of countermeasure or electronic warfare application where someone is trying to jam (your communications) for instance. You could create a geometrical notch in your array and cancel that out or you could go the other direction and emit energy in an arbitrary way. Maybe there’s multiple targets or you have some knowledge about what the target is doing, and you can emit (a signal) according to your predictions that will counter whatever that target is trying to do as efficiently as possible."
The team sees several potential applications for Transform Sensing, including electronic warfare, remote sensing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on satellites, and improving medical imaging. While discovering and patenting novel processes and technologies for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and the DoD is a proud moment for the team, they emphasize that their work is ultimately in service of the warfighter.
At the end of the day, the team's goal is to move the mission forward in a way that gives the DAF and the DoD a competitive advantage, and they believe that Transform Sensing has the potential to do just that. This groundbreaking technique represents a significant leap forward in RF sensing technology, offering a competitive edge for the DAF and DoD. It's not just about cool research – it's about making a real difference for those who serve. So, buckle up and get ready for the transformative power of Transform Sensing!