Antenna integration for the world's most powerful radar tracking system has begun in Western Australia

Northrop Grumman, together with the United States Space Forces Space Systems Command (USSF), has successfully completed the first stage of ground-based antenna integration at Site 1 of the Advanced Deep Space Radar Capabilities Center (DARC) in Western Australia. This is an important step in the implementation of a large-scale program to create the world's most powerful radar system designed to track objects in deep space.

DARC (Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability) is designed to significantly enhance the U.S. ability to track and analyze space objects — from satellites to potentially dangerous space debris — over vast distances. The system will use several highly sensitive antennas distributed across different geographical locations to ensure continuous and comprehensive monitoring of near-Earth and deep space.

Western Australia has been selected as one of the key locations due to its geographical location, which provides optimal coverage of the southern hemisphere. The successful antenna integration at this site was the first demonstration of the technology's operability under the USSF program.

The full deployment of DARC is also planned on other continents, which will create a global tracking network. This system will become an important element of space security and defense, providing more accurate positioning of objects and warning of potential threats.

New antenna can reduce 5G power consumption in the US Army by 90%

 

The new low-power antenna is a type of lens antenna with a gradient millimeter wave index (GRIN)

The US Army can get an ultra-high-speed network, reducing energy consumption by 90% with the help of a new antenna.

Once implemented, this technology can provide a "5G-on-the-mobile" solution with increased efficiency, security, and versatility.Researchers from the University of Notre Dame, funded by the US Army, are making efforts to offer a solution with much lower energy consumption., because the introduction of 5G technology has entailed high energy costs.

Broadband beam Control However, over the past eight years, Chisum and his laboratory have made groundbreaking discoveries in the fundamental science of broadband beam control. These results allowed Chisum and his team to create a single antenna that can operate in all frequency bands for 5G, which was once considered impossible, according to a press release. University of Notre Dame.The researchers emphasized that the antenna's low-power broadband capabilities make it particularly useful for the U.S. Army. They argued that the army should operate 5G networks around the world, and 5G networks operate on different frequencies around the world."So a broadband solution like ours is an important opportunity. And because it consumes very little energy and is relatively small and lightweight, it can be integrated into a mobile platform," Chisum said. The researchers found that the new low-power antenna is a type of millimeter wave gradient index (GRIN) lens antenna. Although GRIN lenses have been around for over a century, the idea of developing a GRIN lens antenna for 5G networks once seemed far-fetched to most wireless researchers.

"Currently, most of the cost of operating a cellular network is accounted for by electricity. If you look at a cell tower, you'll understand why: It uses different antennas for each band, and they rely on active, energy-powered chips.", — said Jonathan Chisum, associate professor of electrical Engineering.

"Our initial idea was simple: what if we could develop similar capabilities in just one very broadband antenna, allowing the physics of materials to do the work normally done by many energy-intensive chips."5G-on-the-Mobile technology can deliver a 5G-on-the-move solution with improved efficiency, security and versatility after implementation.

However, the development of this new technology is the first step towards its integration into mobile networks for civilian use.

Researchers at the Chisum Laboratory are creating and improving digital lens antenna models using computer-aided design software.To transfer this technology from the laboratory to the field, Chisum's laboratory has formed a team of industry partners. The team will include several leading suppliers with expertise in wireless networks, antennas, and additive manufacturing uniquely suited to GRIN carriers, according to a press release.