Background  

Researchers from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR-Curtin) translated radio astronomy functionality to design and develop a versatile, deployable and covert sensor system with the potential to function as a cheap, extremely configurable and covert passive radar.   

Space-based programs play an important position in Defence operations — from offering useful data, to enabling personnel and platforms to remain related. The potential to function successfully in area is vital to Defence’s potential to guard and defend Australia’s nationwide pursuits.   

Space environments have gotten more and more congested with satellites and particles. Space Domain Awareness (SDA) programs utilising new developments in communications expertise are wanted to assist Defence preserve consciousness and management of the battlespace, mitigating any environmental results.  

“As an SDA tool, the system has comparable sensitivity and deployability to other commercial systems and may be able to be calibrated to meet specific Defence use cases as they are presented to us,” mentioned lead researcher and Associate Professor Dr. Randall Wayth, from ICRAR-Curtin.   

“As currently designed, the system has the potential to be used as passive radar for stealth aircraft that would otherwise be difficult to detect at normal radar frequencies.”  

Approach  

ICRAR researchers prototyped their moveable sensor system based mostly on present radio astronomy expertise, deploying it in quite a lot of eventualities as an example its flexibility and suitability for built-in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.   

“Sensor technologies for SDA vary considerably in size, complexity, cost, and operating frequency. With this system, we demonstrate the potential for inexpensive low frequency interferometric aperture array technology to operate as a passive radar for SDA,” mentioned Associate Professor Wayth.   

“In building and demonstrating this prototype, ICRAR-Curtin has taken skills, technologies, techniques, and expertise developed in the course of our core business of radio astronomy, and applied them to a Defence purpose, producing a system that operates at a Technology Readiness Level 6.”  

The CRG undertaking offered researchers with the chance to leverage present capabilities and expertise in WA’s manufacturing sector.   

Researchers contracted with native engineering agency Geng, in addition to WA producer, Osborne Motors, to determine a WA-based sovereign provide chain with the potential and capability to contribute to defence’s present and rising area functionality wants.   

Outcome  

Looking to the long run, Associate Professor Wayth says discussions with collaborators from business and authorities are ongoing, with the goal of reaching real-time knowledge processing functionality, bettering the potential for software to numerous Defence and safety challenges.  

The DSC, a part of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, presents help to Western Australian establishments to develop native capabilities and analysis to seek out options for present and future Defence developments.  

Learn extra about Defence Science Centre grants programs