Remcom Secures NASA SBIR Grant for Wireless Channel Simulation in Artemis Spacesuits and Lunar Rovers

Key Takeaways

Remcom has received a NASA contract to enhance wireless channel modeling for antennas on spacesuits and lunar vehicles.
The project will utilize Wireless InSite® software to improve communication links for astronauts on the Moon’s surface.
Innovations will also benefit commercial wireless device design, especially in wearable technology.

NASA and Remcom Collaborate on Lunar Communication Enhancement

Remcom has secured a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract from NASA aimed at advancing wireless channel modeling technology for antennas used in astronaut spacesuits and lunar vehicles. This contract builds on Remcom’s prior contributions to NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program and the Artemis lunar exploration missions.

The focus of this project is to assist NASA engineers in crafting and verifying robust communication links for astronauts operating on the Moon. This enhancement utilizes Wireless InSite® 3D Wireless Prediction Software, which has been fine-tuned to address the specific challenges posed by modern spacesuit materials, which are complex and layered. These layers can significantly affect antenna radiation and transmission, which is crucial for astronaut communication.

To tackle these issues, Wireless InSite will incorporate Huygens surfaces to provide comprehensive modeling of antenna behavior both in the near-field and far-field settings around astronauts and lunar structures. This modeling aims to identify performance tradeoffs for various antenna placements and communication protocols, such as 3GPP sidelink, thereby optimizing device-to-device (D2D) communications among astronauts in varying lunar environments.

Moreover, the project will include advanced acceleration methods to significantly reduce simulation runtimes by one to two orders of magnitude. This improvement will enable quicker analyses of signal propagation in dynamic lunar scenarios, allowing for timely adjustments and refinements in communication strategies as needed.

The technologies developed through this NASA partnership are expected to address Artemis mission-specific requirements while also offering advantages for the design of commercial wireless devices, particularly wearables and on-body sensors used in complex situations.

Greg Skidmore, director of propagation software at Remcom, stated, “Modeling antennas in close proximity to complex structures like spacesuits introduces new electromagnetic challenges that are not well addressed by traditional simulation approaches. This contract provides the opportunity to prototype unique solutions that ensure astronauts stay connected, whether they’re exploring craters or conducting operations outside line-of-sight. This will provide NASA with a more realistic understanding of communication performance in dynamic lunar scenarios.”

In summary, Remcom’s innovative approach and direct support for NASA’s Artemis missions signify an essential step towards enhancing astronaut communication capabilities on the Moon, while also paving the way for advancements in commercial wireless technology.

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