Radio Array of Portable Interferometric Detectors (RAPID): Development of a deployable multiple application radio array

The Radio Array of Portable Interferometric Detectors (RAPID) is an advanced radio designed for multi-role applications. The system implements a spatially diverse sparse array technology and can be deployed and reconfigured easily. Data are captured at the raw voltage level using the system in the field and processed post-experiment. Signal processing for the system is software defined and uses a scalable Cloud computing architecture. The system builds upon the Square Kilometer Array Low Frequency Aperture antenna (SKALA) in combination with custom hardware for data acquisition on a per antenna basis. The instrument uses physically disconnected elements, a high performance direct digitization receiver, hot swap solid state storage, solar and battery power, and wireless control for interconnection. Schedule based operation can also be used in radio quiet locations or to enable minimally attended operation. RAPID is intended for application as both an Astronomical radio telescope and a Geospace imaging radar system. The high degree of mobility a orded by the system enables a wide variety of interferometric configurations and allows deployment of the instrument at locations which are optimal for specific scientific goals.