NuWaves Engineering, an international Radio Frequency (RF) and Microwave solutions provider, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to research and develop a linear C-band power amplifier (PA) for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
NuWaves, in collaboration with Auriga Microwave of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, proposed an innovative method to reduce the size, weight and power (SWaP) of a linear C-band power amplifier for non-payload command and control (C2) systems on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by leveraging advanced monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology and linearization techniques. The team’s PA solution is expected to help overcome operational range limitations inherent in the use of C-band for data link communications versus lower frequency bands in common use today, such as L-band and S-band. In addition, the PA’s exceptional DC-to-RF power efficiency performance will enable support for smaller aircraft, which are expected to comprise a higher percentage of unmanned air fleets in the future.
“NuWaves is pleased to team with Auriga Microwave to develop a new state-of-the-art linear C-band power amplifier solution in support of safe national airspace integration of unmanned systems,” said Jeff Wells, President and CEO of NuWaves Engineering. “Our team has both the theoretical knowledge and applied expertise necessary to successfully develop and commercialize a new state-of-the-art PA solution for NASA.”
“The entire Auriga team is excited to work with NuWaves on this program,” said Bruce Cohen, President and CEO of Auriga Microwave. Cohen continued, “Although this is our first collaboration with NuWaves, the synergy we’ve experienced thus far with the team is incredible; their professionalism, knowledge, dedication and commitment to delivering the best solution is right in line with our Company values.”
NuWaves Engineering is a premier supplier of RF and Microwave solutions for Department of Defense (DoD), government, industrial and commercial customers. An RF engineering powerhouse, NuWaves offers a broad range of design and engineering services related to the development and sustainment of key communications and telemetry systems, as well as a complete line of commercially available RF products.
