January 01, 2024
The research aimed to develop an advanced AI driven, adaptive beam steering antenna system with quantum resistant cryptology (QRLPD/LPI) to enhance the security and resilience of communication channels including Command and Control (C2) of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) - collectively UxS. The project focused on creating a secure communication system capable of operating covertly and securely in electronically contested environments, minimizing the risk of detection and interception by adversaries. The outcome included the successful integration of quantum resistant cryptographic methods and adaptive technologies, ensuring the secure transmission of data and maintaining the operational security and mission integrity of US military assets in sensitive and strategic environments.
Key Advantages of the QRLPD/LPI Solution:
Enhanced Operational Security: The QRLPD/LPI solution minimizes the likelihood of command and control signals for UxS being detected or intercepted, ensuring secure and covert operations.
Resistance to Jamming: By employing spread spectrum methods and frequency hopping, the QRLPD/LPI solution makes it significantly harder for adversaries to jam the communication signals, thereby maintaining the continuity of mission critical operations.
Quantum Resistant Cryptology: Integrating quantum resistant cryptographic methods ensures that the communication systems remain secure even against adversaries equipped with quantum computing capabilities, protecting sensitive data from being decrypted.
Adaptive Beam Steering: The AI driven adaptive beam steering antenna enhances the effectiveness of LPD/LPI measures by avoiding predictable patterns, making it difficult for adversaries to detect or triangulate the signal's origin.
Flexibility and Scalability: The solution is designed to be modular and customizable, allowing for easy integration into various platforms and systems used by military and commercial customers, catering to specific operational requirements.
The research conducted in the document titled "QRLPDLPI_N6833524C0170_Final Report" is superior to traditional multi-frequency, carrier hopping, spread spectrum methods for TRANSEC because it integrates advanced AI driven adaptive beam steering with quantum resistant cryptographic methods. This combination not only obfuscates transmission characteristics to a greater extent, preventing adversaries from detecting, intercepting, or jamming signals, but also provides enhanced security against emerging quantum computing threats. The use of adaptive beam steering allows for Real-time adjustments to the signal path, effectively countering triangulation and trilateration attempts, thereby ensuring a higher level of operational security and resilience in electronically contested environments.
Figure 1: Serco is designing, building, testing, and demonstrating the No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV). Named Defiant, the UMV will be the first of its kind. The 230-metric ton MUSV-class ship aims to maximize performance, reliability, and maintenance efficiency while still carrying significant payload at tactically useful ranges. The goal is to achieve ultra-reliability objectives by integrating distributed hybrid power generation, podded propulsors, and high-capacity batteries. A key philosophy of NOMARS is “graceful degradation,” which allows individual equipment to fail over time by having enough system-level redundancy to meet full system requirements at speeds of at least 15 knots after one year at sea.
Demonstrated LPD/LPI Geo-Location Obfuscation and Counter Electronic Warfare Capabilities (TRANSEC)
Artificial Intelligence-based sense and avoid systems for small UUVs. Increased autonomy for unmanned resupply USV. Alternative Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) systems, including optical ship-relative navigation. Reduced data-exchange requirements. Low Probability of Detection/Low Probability of Intercept (LPD/LPI) communications methods.
Adaptive Beam Steering Antenna Combined with Isidore Quantum (COMSEC and OPSEC)
Phase I feasibility will describe the existing proposed technology, existing DON system(s) to improve, modifications required, anticipated improvements to existing capabilities, impacts to current logistics if any (i.e., transportation, storage, maintenance, safety, etc.) and transition approach to the DON system.
Isidore Augmented with Adaptive Beam Steering Antenna
Forward Edge-AI’s work includes Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), and Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) modeling and simulations. Assessments are designed to ensure compatibility and interoperability of the LPD/LPI solution between US forces, NATO Allies, and our strategic and coalition partners. As such, Forward Edge-AI is conducting investigations in Machine Learning (ML) based Beamforming in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture, LPD/LPI, NATO Standards beginning with 3GPP, and System Simulations.
Quantum-Resistant Encryption
Designed to be both deployable and disposable, Isidore Quantum provides security for data in transit and the smallest, lightest and lowest power configuration of any competing quantum-ready device available today. Isidore is also available with the latest neuromorphic processors to provide high assurance protection of voice, video and data classified TS/SCI and below at 500 Gb/s aggregate throughput and is MIL-STD-810D ruggedized to withstand the rigors of most tactical mobile environment.
Credit Card Sized, Low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) antenna and cryptographic device makes the solution appropriate for small UAS (sUAS) or Class 1 - 5 UAS.
Isidore works as a pair of inline network encryptors that form a routable link layer tunnel across any black fabric. The INEs are agnostic to both the red and black networks. The red namespace is invisible to the black namespace and vice versa. The trust boundary inside each INE is easy to define and evaluate. Isidore provides hardware isolation between red and black zones. The cryptography uses 2 layers of 256-bit encryption (AES GCM) with authentication, integrity checking, anti-replay, forward secrecy. The INE pair autonomously manages the session and key with periodic rekey, key recovery and zeroization.
An Isidore pair provides confidentiality, authentication and isolation for an enterprise that must traverse an untrusted network. Isidore is more than just DIT. Isidore is not IPSEC and does not need or use PKI. Isidore is quantum-ready today.
Stakeholders
Award a Phase III Sole Source Contract
A Federal Agency may enter into a Phase III SBIR/STTR agreement at any time with a Phase I OR II Awardee. A subcontract to a Federally funded prime contract may be a Phase III award.
Step 1 Requirements Document: Prepare a Statement of Work (SOW), Statement of Objectives (SOO), or Performance Work Statement (PWS), or use our automated tool to generate a document
Step 2 Market Research: Use this page as your market research, or view a list of other eligible projects, then request a Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) from Forward Edge-AI
Step 3 Funding: Performed by the government
Step 4 Sole Source Justification: A Memorandum for the Record is required in lieu of a J&A or SSJ
Step 5 Provide Requirements Package to Contracting Officer: Performed by the government
Step 6 Solicitation: Performed by the government
Step 7 Pre-Negotiation Memorandum: Use GSA CALC as a benchmark to determine fair and reasonableness of our ROM
Step 8: Contract Award: Performed by the government
Language for Step 4 (Determination and Finding):
Artificial Intelligence (Anomaly Detector, Deep Reinforcement Learning Agent), beam steering antenna, Counter Electronic Warfare, Encryption, cybersecurity, Frequency Hopping, 5G and FutureG, Low Probability of Detection/Low Probability of Interception (LPD/LPI), neuromorphic processor, O-RAN, physics-based models, phased array antenna, quantum resistant, Radio Frequency (RF), SATCOM, simulations, Software Defined Radio, 3GPP, Zero Trust, USV/UUV, UMV, UMAA
Autonomy, Command, Control, Communications (C3), C4ISR, Contested Logistics, Cyber Security, Distributed Sensing and Communications (DSaC), Telecommunications. Includes testing for Electromagnetic Compatibility EMC/Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) with NATO and coalition partner systems
List of Phase III contracts awarded so far
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SBIR DATA RIGHTS:
Awarding Agency: Department of the Navy
Contract Number: N6833524C0170
Contractor Name: Forward Edge-AI, Inc.
Contractor Address: 10108 Carter Canyon, San Antonio, TX 78255
Expiration of SBIR Data: 21 December 2043
Protection Period: 20 years from award of contract on 21 December 2023
The Government's rights to use, modify, reproduce, release, perform, display, or disclose technical data or computer software marked with this legend are restricted during the period shown as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of the Rights In Other Than Commercial Technical Data and Computer Software–Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program clause contained in the above identified contract. After the expiration date shown above, the Government has perpetual government purpose rights as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of that clause. Any reproduction of technical data, computer software, or portions thereof marked with this legend must also reproduce the markings.