The Ins And Outs Of Phased Array Radar (Or What I Learned From Teddy Duncan)
By John Oncea, Editor
As research continues, phased array radar systems are expected to become more efficient, versatile, and cost-effective, opening up new possibilities in both military and civilian applications.
I’m a father of a now 21-year-old girl who grew up watching Disney shows like Wizards of Waverly Place, Good Luck Charlie, and Lemonade Mouth. And that meant I, too, watched those shows. Well, I didn’t really watch, but I did keep an eye on them to make sure they were appropriate for a young girl to watch.
Anyway, it’s interesting to see how the stars of these shows reinvented themselves later in life as adult actors. Like Wizards’ Selena Gomez in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building or Lemonade Mouth’s Naomi Scott in 2019’s Charlie’s Angels. Heck, Wizards’ David Henrie went on to play Ted Mosby’s future son Luke on How I Met Your Mother.
One actor who starred in all three of these Disney Shows was Bridgit Mendler. She played Juliet Van Heusen of Wizards of Waverly Place, Teddy Duncan on Good Luck Charlie, and Olivia White in Lemonade Mouth.
Imagine my surprise to find out she grew up to be a student and researcher with the MIT Media Lab and registered as a Ph.D. candidate with MIT’s Center for Constructive Communications and Social Machines group. Oh, she also earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
But what stood out most was her becoming CEO and cofounder of the satellite data startup Northwood Space, a company with a stated mission of building an efficient ground network based on phased array technology to rapidly scale connectivity and resilience for space.
Last month, Northwood’s ground station unit successfully connected with orbiting Planet Labs satellites. According to TechCrunch, “The team successfully showed the startup’s novel phased-array antenna system can transmit data to and from satellites in orbit. This first test focused on telemetry and tasking of the satellites and achieved bidirectional links over five satellite passes.”
“The purpose of what we’re doing is building a more performant ground network that can help industrialize the space industry,” Mendler – who could be this generation’s Hedy Lamarr – said in a recent interview. “We see connectivity as really a fundamental pillar of expanding space.”
According to CNBC, “Northwood aims to build satellite ground stations that are designed with fast production and deployment flexibility first in mind. (Head of Software and cofounder Shaurya) Luthra said Northwood wants to deliver ground stations ‘within days, not months,’ so that satellite operators don’t spend time reconfiguring their networks to properly support what’s happening on Earth.”
Northwood is positioning itself as a ground station as a service (GSaaS) and is competing with Amazon’s AWS Ground Station service and satellite communications giant Eutelsat to solve “historical issues like cost and scale” while “betting that its phased array-based system, called Portal, can outperform the parabolic dish antennas traditionally used by ground station companies.”
What Is Phased Array Radar?
Phased array radar offers electronic beam steering without physical movement of the antenna, the ability to track multiple targets while searching for new ones (track while search capability), and improved resistance to electronic countermeasures due to random beam positioning.
It also has a rich history spanning over a century, with significant advancements and applications in both military and civilian sectors. The concept of phased array antennas was first demonstrated in 1905 by German physicist Karl Ferdinand Braun, who showed enhanced transmission of radio waves in one direction. However, the technology remained largely theoretical until 1940 when the American Lincoln Laboratory first controlled the direction of signal waves mechanically, writes SHS Conferences.
During WWII, Luis Alvarez used phased array transmission for a ground-controlled approach system to aid aircraft landing while the German GEMA built the Mammut 1, an early phased array radar system. In the 1960s, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) initiated the world's first technology development program for passive phased-array radar. IN 1966, the U.S. Navy’s AN/SPS-33 – installed on nuclear-powered ships five years earlier – was claimed to be the only operational 3-D phased array in the world.
According to MiniCircuits, modern phased array radar systems have seen significant advancements from the integration of solid-state components and semiconductor technology has led to miniaturization and improved performance to the rise of digital beamforming arrays that offer excellent capabilities but often require vast digital resources. In addition, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars are now used in airborne applications and 5G communications utilize phased array technology for beamforming.
Phased Array Radar’s Future
The future of phased array radar will be driven by innovations in various fields and expanding applications across military and civilian sectors. According to RF Globalnet, they are transitioning from analog to digital, software-defined architectures allowing for more flexible and resilient systems, higher performance capabilities, and multi-mission functionality on a single platform.
The integration of machine learning techniques into radar systems is becoming possible due to increased computational power in modern FPGAs, a development that will enable automatic adaptation of operating parameters, advanced capabilities like automatic target recognition, and enhanced decision-making in complex scenarios.
Research in quantum radar technology is ongoing, promising improved sensitivity and resolution, enhanced security through quantum encryption techniques, and the potential for detecting stealth targets more effectively. Beyond that, the replacement of traditional magnetron transmitters with solid-state alternatives will lead to instant power-up capabilities, higher reliability and lower power consumption, and improved frequency stability, enhancing detection capabilities.
SHS Conferences add that breakthroughs in GaN technology are expected to enable fully digitalized phased array modules leading to improved power efficiency, enhanced performance in high-frequency applications, and an overall reduction in size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C).
These technological advancements will expand the applications of phased array radar systems into space, offering global coverage for various applications, enhanced earth observation and space situational awareness, and improved satellite communication systems.
Civilian applications will benefit from improved phased array technology as well in the form of advanced weather monitoring and research, improved air traffic control systems, enhanced 5G/6G communication networks, and medical imaging advancements in ultrasound technology.
Finally, the integration of phased array technology in automotive applications is set to grow, writes Faisal Mohamed. This will lead to improvements in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and object detection and collision avoidance, as well as enhanced adaptive cruise control capabilities.
Future Challenges and Research Directions
As research continues, phased array radar technology is expected to become more versatile, efficient, and cost-effective, opening up new possibilities in both military and civilian applications. The future of phased array radar lies in its ability to adapt to changing technological landscapes and meet the evolving needs of various industries.
There are challenges to overcome before then, however, including technical challenges in quantum radar implementation and scaling, developing more sophisticated algorithms for cognitive radar systems, and enhancing the ability to detect and track low-observable (stealth) targets.
But once those challenges are met, along with improving data fusion techniques for multi-sensor integration and addressing cybersecurity concerns in increasingly networked radar systems, phased array radar systems will see more success, and companies like Northwood Space will be better positioned to improve efficiency and communications.