| 2005 Technology
Symposium > Electronics
Electronics
Electronics investigates electronic component technologies, and their
design and fabrication techniques.
Emerging Technologies for VLSI Application
Roberto Landrau, Principal Investigator
Location(s): Washington and Bedford
Problems
Microelectronics technology advances at a very accelerated pace. Current design techniques offered by CAD tools do not address the design challenges generated by new semiconductor processes over the next 3-5 years. In order to incorporate these advances into an integrated circuit (IC) design flow, new CAD techniques and algorithms must be developed.
Objectives
This project will research and develop microelectronics design techniques, software tools, and resources for the next-generation process technologies that will allow MITRE to explore the efficient architectures necessary for advanced systems needed by our sponsors.
Activities
The project will design low-power solutions. We expect to make a contribution in this area by taking a systems perspective and optimizing across all domains. We will specify highly integrated and complex systems, and evaluate SystemC and other language alternatives for system design. We will also evaluate verification techniques necessary to validate the design before IC prototypes are built.
Impact
The ability to design custom ICs enables MITRE to explore and suggest a broader range of architectures and implementations, leading to small, practical solutions to the needs of our customers. This expertise also enhances our skills and practical knowledge of state-of-the-art microelectronics, and enables our role as technical advisors to set the vision in a broad range of programs.
Problems
Microelectronics technology advances at a very accelerated pace. Current design techniques offered by CAD tools do not address the design challenges generated by new semiconductor processes over the next 3-5 years. In order to incorporate these advances into an integrated circuit (IC) design flow, new CAD techniques and algorithms must be developed.
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Enabling Technologies for Mobile Communications
John Putnam, Principal Investigator
Location(s): Washington and Bedford
Problems
The transformation to network centric warfare requires seamless air-to-air, space, and ground connectivity. The communications systems required to provide this capability depend on wideband RF, narrowband RF, and optical links. Unfortunately, there are a number of serious challenges related to the installation of RF systems on airborne platforms, resulting in limitations on the number, size, and location of antenna apertures.
Objectives
This project will address the development and demonstration of new elements that can be used to produce multibeam phased array apertures for the airborne environment. Beam forming and control for fully conformal arrays located on alternate aircraft surfaces will also be addressed. This work will establish a foundation for future airborne terminals, supporting the growing need for wideband RF communications capabilities for airborne platforms.
Activities
Activities include design, fabrication and evaluation of new array patch antennas, beamforming elements and high efficiency power amplifiers. These elements will be integrated into a prototype Ku-band sub-array designed for the airborne environment. Numerical beam forming techniques for conformal arrays located on a non-planar surface will be investigated. We will also analyze methods to control beam pointing for arrays located on vibrating surfaces, such as wings.
Impact
The elements and technical solutions developed for this MOIE will help address the challenges associated with antenna aperture installation on airborne platforms. The deployment of wideband Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) terminals will support the effort to bring airborne platforms into the Global Grid and will provide the seamless connectivity and airborne meshed networks envisioned in the Transformational Communications program.
Problems
The transformation to network centric warfare requires seamless air-to-air, space, and ground connectivity. The communications systems required to provide this capability depend on wideband RF, narrowband RF, and optical links. Unfortunately, there are a number of serious challenges related to the installation of RF systems on airborne platforms, resulting in limitations on the number, size, and location of antenna apertures.
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Energy Store
Perry Hamlyn, Principal Investigator
Location(s): Washington and Bedford
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Generic Transformational Scalable Modular Affordable RF Transceiver
Perry Hamlyn, Principal Investigator
Location(s): Washington and Bedford
Problems
DoD and intelligence communities need small, low power, covert systems with performance characteristics beyond commercially available hardware for wireless data transmission with a low probability of detection and intercept to accomplish missions such as tagging, beacons, and data exfiltration. A generic, reconfigurable transceiver is critical to providing this capability at an affordable price.
Objectives
Utilize MITRE's extensive system design experience in Mixed Signal & Digital microelectronics, coupled with domain expertise in RF, Analog, and COM to produce a scalable, modular, adaptable transceiver that is low cost, low power and high performance across a variety of network centric operations. The transceiver must be modular, reconfigurable, have wide bandwidth, and be platform interoperable.
Activities
Leverage MITRE's extensive system and microelectronic design expertise to develop common threads for the transceiver architecture suitable for multiple applications such as Blue Force and asset tracking and net centric data exfiltration. Converter design, mixed signal modeling, simulation, prototyping, assimilation of SiGe technology, and RFIC layout and packaging are critical steps in the development of the Get Smart transceiver.
Impact
Get SMART provides focus for microelectronic developments in key areas such as mixed signal system on a chip, reconfigurable, and ultra low power electronics. It fills the performance/cost void for high performance transceivers, providing low cost, portable wireless data transmission for applications such as network centric operations, beacons, blue force, UAV, and asset tracking. Get SMART supports network centric operations
Problems
DoD and intelligence communities need small, low power, covert systems with performance characteristics beyond commercially available hardware for wireless data transmission with a low probability of detection and intercept to accomplish missions such as tagging, beacons, and data exfiltration. A generic, reconfigurable transceiver is critical to providing this capability at an affordable price.
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Molecular Electronics
James Ellenbogen, Principal Investigator
Location(s): Washington
Problems
In the FY01-04 Molecular Electronics, or "Moletronics," Program, DARPA and the Navy Space and Naval Systems Warfare Command (SPAWAR) Systems Center are developing next-generation, ultra-dense nanomemory systems. They also are developing nanoprocessor and nanosensor systems in the new FY04-08 Applications of Molecular Electronics, or "MoleApps," Program. Challenges include improving understanding of molecular devices and integrating many tiny devices in complete systems.
Objectives
Through design proposals, modeling, and analysis, MITRE is addressing key technical challenges associated with the 2005 demonstration of ultra-dense molecular electronic nanomemory in the Moletronics Program, as well as the 2008-09 nanoprocessor and nanosensor demonstrations in the MoleApps Program. In this work, MITRE is assisting in integrating diverse research efforts from other groups under contract to the two DARPA programs.
Activities
MITRE is applying nanomemory simulations to help refine the designs for the prototype 16-kilobit molecular memory systems being built by Harvard University and by Hewlett-Packard Corporation. MITRE also is assisting DARPA in designing and simulating prototype computer processors and sensor systems that will be integrated on the nanometer scale.
Impact
MITRE's simulations of nanomemories have played a key role in ensuring that prototype molecular electronic memories can be scaled up to meet the 2005 Moletronics Program milestone. Also, MITRE nanoprocessor models and simulations were instrumental in planning and gaining approval for the new MoleApps Program. Still other MITRE efforts are assisting in planning future DARPA nanoelectronics R&D programs.
Problems
In the FY01-04 Molecular Electronics, or "Moletronics," Program, DARPA and the Navy Space and Naval Systems Warfare Command (SPAWAR) Systems Center are developing next-generation, ultra-dense nanomemory systems. They also are developing nanoprocessor and nanosensor systems in the new FY04-08 Applications of Molecular Electronics, or "MoleApps," Program. Challenges include improving understanding of molecular devices and integrating many tiny devices in complete systems.
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Nanosystems Modeling and Nanoelectronic Computers
James Ellenbogen, Principal Investigator
Location(s): Washington
Problems
The 40-year-long miniaturization revolution in electronics continues to be of great economic and military importance to the United States. However, it is likely that miniaturization of conventional solid-state microelectronic devices will not be possible beyond the years 20102012.
Objectives
The Nanosystems Modeling and Nanoelectronic Computers project is addressing the problem of designing, fabricating, and applying electronic systems and novel materials that are integrated on the nanometer scale, i.e., the molecular scale. Such nanoelectronic systems and other nanosystems will be the ultra-miniaturized successors to present-day microelectronics and microsystems.
Activities
The project team is developing new understanding of the electrical properties of molecules and other nanostructures, plus new methods for manipulating them to build nanocomputers. Also, the team is exploring novel applications, such as the millirobots controlled by nanocomputers that the team is fabricating. It is anticipated that these investigations will lead to new technical publications and intellectual property.
Impact
These investigations have led to groundbreaking publications, as well as novel inventions and patents. The R&D also has assisted several government agencies in initiating advanced research projects in nanoelectronics and nanotechnology, for example, the DARPA Moletronics program. Additionally, this project has served to educate a cadre of student investigators who have gone on to further important nanotechnology achievements.
Problems
The 40-year-long miniaturization revolution in electronics continues to be of great economic and military importance to the United States. However, it is likely that miniaturization of conventional solid-state microelectronic devices will not be possible beyond the years 20102012.
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Radio Frequency Stealth Transmit/Receive Modules
Perry Hamlyn, Principal Investigator
Location(s): Washington and Bedford
Problems
Military operations demand sophisticated wireless systems that are compact, efficient, and affordable. Such requirements have been met in radio frequency (RF), analog, and digital circuits separately with greater levels of circuit integration. However, achieving greater integration by combining these functions onto a single integrated circuit chip remains a challenge due to conflicting requirements of the different circuit types.
Objectives
This project goal is to advance MITRE along the roadmap toward realizing a mixed-signal system-on-chip (SoC) capability by developing digital SoC-based radar-responsive tag technology for military applications. The objectives are to apply embedded microprocessor technology, establish RF integrated circuit design capability, and develop a low-power digital RF memory (DRFM) technology suitable for such tag applications.
Activities
Activities include mission analysis of foliage-penetrating synthetic aperture radar (FOPEN SAR) tags, system radar/tag simulation, waveform design, RF integrated circuit (RFIC) design, RFIC test chip fabrication and evaluation, laboratory DRFM design and demonstration, and the design of a generic IC-based DRFM.
Impact
MITRE operations will benefit through the experience of applying mixed-signal microelectronics technology. By developing SoC capability, MITRE will increase its ability to respond to customer problems that call for small, inexpensive, and low-power wireless solutions. In addition, MITRE will provide greater expertise to industry efforts in blue force tracking, radar-responsive tag development, and VHF FOPEN SAR image registration.
Problems
Military operations demand sophisticated wireless systems that are compact, efficient, and affordable. Such requirements have been met in radio frequency (RF), analog, and digital circuits separately with greater levels of circuit integration. However, achieving greater integration by combining these functions onto a single integrated circuit chip remains a challenge due to conflicting requirements of the different circuit types.
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