Mission: Extend Operational Capabilities
Technology continues to be the catalyst of human evolution from the stick and stone to Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs). Often taken for granted, that pocket watch collecting dust on the shelf has a story to tell. It took thousands of years before humans had the luxury of tracking time with ease. Fast forward the clocks to today, we find ourselves saturated in technology enveloped in a highly demanding market. UAVs cloud the sky as powerful countries across the globe continue to invest money into this market. UAVs can have many different applications, but they all have specific design requirements.
Figure 1: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Reaper UAV
UAVs are transforming warfighting capabilities and commercial applications by removing the pilot from danger. The remote control or autopiloting of these unmanned systems allows drones to perform advanced remote functions. Many RF modules go into a drone’s design; yet, the most critical functions are inherently tied to link margin. With military operational capabilities in mind, boosting link margin remains a priority for long-range communications. Bidirectional amplifiers (BDAs) with autosensing thermal circuity can protect and maintain data links, ultimately increasing mission success rates. Communications must always be enabled as well as sustained to prevent catastrophic failure.
Figure 2: NuWaves Engineering’s’ C10RX03
To optimize system performance, Bidirectional amplifiers, like our own C10RX03, can be applied to existing signal chains. NuWaves custom-tailored BDAs such as the NuPower Xtender C10RX03 generate 10 Watts of RF transmit power with a focus on high fidelity and power output. In receive mode, the NuPower Xtender offers a low noise figure of 3.5 dB and a low noise amplifier that provides 12 dB of gain. The module accepts a nominal +30 dBm input level and provides 10 dB of transmit gain. The NuPower Xtender C10RX03 will extend range, improve link margin, reduce load on DC system power, and consume less volume in tight spaces. This module, for instance, was designed to be installed on a wing tip and can be used for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Group 2 & 3, Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV), RF Telemetry, RF Communication Systems, and Software Defined Radios (SDR). Heatsinks effectively maintain optimal thermal conditions and are also offered at NuWaves as ancillary equipment.
To meet other requirement specifications, NuWaves RF Solutions can modify one of our existing products or create a new design format entirely in-house to satisfy our customer’s needs. The ability to seamlessly optimize system performance using NuWaves’ BDAs is a cost-effective, low-risk, and modular solution. In order to extend range capabilities and increase system performance in other RF-related areas, check NuWaves Engineering’s product and design servicing solutions for more information.
Figure 3: Drone Pilot Operating MQ-9 Reaper 7,000 Miles Away
As the world of RF constantly demands more knowledge and advancement, technological innovation will continue to push the boundaries of modern physics. Being able to stay at the top of the food chain becomes exponentially more difficult as time persists. That’s why continuously improving system performance with modules like BDAs will help our warfighters and first responders achieve mission success. The world of automation is here, and with it comes a fruitful opportunity for technological advancement. This will propel humankind into a new dawn of existence. The world is changing right before our eyes and here at NuWaves RF Solutions, we are fixed on supporting our customers’ needs through providing top-tier RF solutions and products.
Figure 4: Boeing’s Loyal Wingman Drone
References
– Figure 1: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2014-01-23/electronic-warfare-role-reaper-uav
– Figure 3: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/us/drone-pilots-waiting-for-a-kill-shot-7000-miles-away.html
– Figure 4: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/05/04/boeing-rolls-out-australias-first-loyal-wingman-combat-drone/
NuWaves Rf Solutions is a veteran-owned, premier supplier of RF and Microwave solutions for Department of Defense (DoD), government, and industrial customers. An RF engineering powerhouse, NuWaves offers a broad range of design and engineering services related to the development and sustainment of key communications, telemetry, and electronic warfare systems, as well as a complete line of commercially available RF products. NuWaves’ products include wideband frequency converters, high-efficiency and miniature solid-state power amplifiers and bidirectional amplifiers, high intercept low noise amplifiers, miniature RF filters, and cavity filters.
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