Electronics -- Projects

Emerging Technologies for VLSI Applications

Nanosystems Modeling and Nanoelectronic Computers

Radio Frequency Stealth Transmit/Receive Modules

Electronics

Electronics investigates electronic component technologies, and their design and fabrication techniques.

Emerging Technologies for VLSI Applications

Roberto L. Landrau, Principal Investigator

Bedford only

Problem
The military faces an increasingly sophisticated level of threat in the modern battlefield. Warfighters have to rely on advanced electronic equipment to counteract these threats. The use of state-of-the-art microelectronics can provide our armed forces superiority over the enemy.

Objectives
This project will bring critical emerging technologies to the MITRE community. As in previous years, this work will enhance MITRE's microelectronics design capability and enable us to better serve our customer. Our present focus will be on system-on-a-chip technologies that can incorporate diverse forms of processing, including RF, analog, digital, programmable processors, and MEMS sensors.

Activities
We are currently researching the integration of commercially available intellectual property for ICs. Our research has focused on programmable microprocessor cores. We are also researching system-on-a-chip mixed-language circuit simulation and modeling using VHDL, Verilog, and C simultaneously. Finally, we are developing an IC design flow that reduces power by modifying the synthesis cost functions for low-power applications.

Impacts
This project has had a broad influence on other MITRE projects, sponsor-funded work, industry consortia, and academia. We are establishing new system-on-a-chip technologies in the MITRE community. The ability to design multi-million transistor ICs incorporating diverse forms of processing-analog, digital, programmable processors, and MEMS sensors-will enable small, light, and low-power military electronic systems to address the needs on the battlefield.

Nanosystems Modeling and Nanoelectronic Computers

James C. Ellenbogen, Principal Investigator

Washington only

Problem
The 40-year-long miniaturization revolution in electronics continues to be of great economic and military importance to the U.S. However, it is likely that miniaturization of conventional solid-state microelectronic devices will not be possible beyond the years 2010-12.

Objectives
The Nanosystems Modeling and Nanoelectronic Computers project is addressing the problem of designing and applying successor electronic systems, which are integrated on the nanometer scale, i.e., the molecular scale.

Activities
To that end, the project is exploring three general constraints or factors that govern the design of a nanocomputer, as follows: (1) the structure and operational principles of its devices and circuits, (2) the materials and means with which it will be fabricated, and (3) its novel, next-generation applications.

Impacts
These investigations have led to groundbreaking publications, as well as novel inventions and patents. They also have assisted several government agencies in initiating new advanced research projects in nanoelectronics and nanotechnology, for example, the DARPA Moletronics program. Additionally, this project has served to educate a cadre of student nanotechnology investigators who also have gone on to important achievements in the field.

Radio Frequency Stealth Transmit/Receive Modules

Moise N. Solomon, Co-Principal Investigator

Brian A. Fiore, Co-Principal Investigator

Washington only

Problem
Military operations have a demand for wireless systems that are more compact, efficient, reliable, and sophisticated. Such requirements have stimulated the need to successfully merge RF, analog, and digital signal processing functions on a single chip.

Objectives
This project seeks to apply enabling technologies that move MITRE along the roadmap towards realizing a system on a chip (SoC). The objective is to apply embedded microprocessor technology, increase design experience in a mixed-signal IC technology, and to investigate strategic partnerships that foster the state-of-the-art development of SoC.

Activities
This project is aligned with the MITRE roadmap for SoC. Specifically, RF, analog, and digital VLSI circuit functions are progressively integrated over a three-year period culminating in an application-specific IC (ASIC)-based digital RF memory (DRFM) tag. Tasks include system analysis, RF integrated circuit (RFIC) design, field programmable gate array (FPGA) design, ASIC design, and DRFM development.

Impacts
MITRE operations will benefit through the experience of applying mixed-signal technology in the microelectronics arena. By taking advantage of a common technology and design tool base, MITRE will leverage its VLSI and RF microelectronic resources and grow its ability to respond to customer problems which call for small, inexpensive, and low-power solutions.