Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
RF Front End Based on MEMS Components for Miniaturized Digital EVA Radio, Phase I
Project Introduction
In this proposal, AlphaSense, Inc. (AI) and the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) detail the development of RF front end based on MEMS components for miniaturized digital EVA radio. Key innovations of our approach include: a) the use of a novel parallel receiver front end architecture based on MEMS components, b) a novel design of a high Q mixer-filter for RF mixing and IF filtering, and c) the implementation of band pass filter and voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) using CMOS fabrication technique. Consequently, the proposed EVA radio has the following merits: a)Small size, light- weight and low power consumption, b)High sensitivity and frequency selectivity, c)Good device reliability, and d)Easy device fabrication and low manufacturing cost.
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Anticipated Benefits
Other than the space exploration, the proposed MEMS based EVA radio also has vast applications in the areas of wireless and mobile radio communications. For example, it can be used by first responders to enhance interoperability among police, firefighters, HazMat, homeland security and medical personnel. It can also be used by the military personnel for the soldier-centric secure communications and mode switchable on-the-fly communications. Finally, the miniature MEMS RF front end components can also find commercial applications in cell phones, pagers, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/UWB radio integration. The most straightforward application of the proposed miniature MEMS based EVA radio is used by NASA for space exploration. The significantly reduced form factor and power requirements along with the increased selectivity and performance of the MEMS based EVA radio allows long duration human exploration while simultaneously increasing communication reliability and crew safety.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlphaSense, Inc. | Lead Organization |
Industry
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
|
Wilmington, Delaware |
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Delaware
-
Texas
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Organization:
- AlphaSense, Inc.
Responsible Program:
- Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Principal Investigator:
Project Duration
Start: Jan 2010
End: Jul 2010
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 2 |
| Current: | 4 |
| Estimated End: | 4 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TX05 Communications, Navigation, and Orbital Debris Tracking and Characterization Systems
- TX05.2 Radio Frequency
- TX05.2.1 Spectrum-Efficiency
Target Destination
The Moon
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