Designing and Deploying Adaptable RF Systems for C-UAS Applications
Counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) development requires RF platforms that can adapt to evolving communications protocols, sensing technologies, and spectrum environments. As commercial and military unmanned aircrafts continue to adopt new communications methods, navigation techniques, autonomous behaviors, and spectrum access strategies, engineers face a constantly changing target for detection, monitoring, and mitigation. Effective development requires extensive testing across diverse RF scenarios, including sensing, analyzing, identifying, and classifying signals across multiple frequency bands. To keep pace with emerging threats while reducing development risk, engineers need flexible platforms that support rapid prototyping, algorithm development, and transition from the lab to deployed operation without major redesigns.
Application Requirements:
- Common SDR-based workflow for algorithm development, integration, testing, and validation
- Consistent RF behavior, software frameworks, and development environments as projects move from prototyping to deployment
- Reconfigurable hardware and software that support updates to waveforms, protocols, sensing techniques, and signal processing algorithms
- Hardware options ranging from compact, SWaP-optimized radios to high-performance wideband SDR platforms
- Support for RF sensing, communications analysis, protocol development, electronic support, and system integration
COTS SDR for Designing and Deploying RF Systems
- USRP Software Defined Radio (SDR) Devices provide a flexible architecture for rapidly designing, prototyping, and deploying custom RF systems
- Open development environments including UHD, RFNoC, GNU Radio, and NI LabVIEW simplify software and FPGA development workflows
- Scalable SDR architectures support transition from lab prototyping into integrated and deployment-oriented RF systems while preserving software
Solution Advantages
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Flexible RF architecture for rapid prototyping and deployment of custom RF systems
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Open software environments that support integration with existing processing and control frameworks
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Frequency coverage ranging from low frequencies through FR3 and Ku-band ranges, depending on selected hardware
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High instantaneous bandwidth, phase-coherent synchronization, and high-speed networking for distributed and multichannel systems
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Embedded, rack-mount, and high-performance SDR options to align with deployment and integration requirements
"The NI Ettus Research USRP X310 is the only commercially available SDR with the openness and raw RF and DSP capabilities to meet the needs of this rapidly evolving drone threat."
-Scott Torborg, CTO, SkySafe
Build Your Solution with the NI Ecosystem
NI offers a variety of solution integration options customized to your application-specific requirements. You can use your own internal integration teams for full system control or leverage the expertise of NI and our worldwide NI Partner Network to obtain a turnkey solution.
The NI Partner Network is a global community of domain, application, and overall test development experts working closely with NI to meet the needs of the engineering community. NI Partners are trusted solution providers, systems integrators, consultants, product developers, and services and sales channel experts skilled across a wide range of industries and application areas.
NI works with customers throughout the life of an application, delivering training, technical support, consultation and integration services, and maintenance programs. Teams can discover new skills by participating in NI-specific and geographic user groups and build proficiency with online and in-person training.
Which USRP Is Right for You?
If you’re looking to match your mission to the right USRP, connect with an NI product expert help you determine which USRP best aligns with your mission needs.
An NI Partner is a business entity independent from NI and has no agency or joint-venture relationship and does not form part of any business associations with NI.