SBIR-STTR Award

To address the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) need for a cell phone location finder for maritime and remote search and rescue (SAR), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new REmote Phone Locator for Improved Emergency Rescue (REPLIER). REPLIER leverages novel techniques recently developed at POC to extend the range of cellular communications and integrate commercial cellular communications into deployed tactical radios. Innovations in REPLIER enable localization of persons in distress from over 100 km away, with resolution of 50 m or better. REPLIER is intrinsically able to discriminate between the target and other cell phone devices, avoiding disruption of traditional cell phone services or violation of the privacy of other cell phone users. REPLIER is small and lightweight for portability and ease of integration with first responders existing equipment, such as Rescue 21. REPLIER features Ingress Protection (IP)-67 packaging to provide durability and compatibility for a wide range of maritime and remote land border environments. In Phase I, POC will develop a REPLIER proof of concept and demonstrate the technical feasibility for a range of use cases and concepts of operations, reaching technology readiness level TRL-4. In Phase II, POC plans to develop and demonstrate a TRL-6 prototype, in preparation for transition/commercialization in Phase III. The successful completion of this project at the end of Phase III will benefit the nation in both government and commercial sectors by providing an effective means to track cellular signals for SAR operations.

To address the DHS need for a cell phone location finder for maritime and remote search and rescue (SAR), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes, in Phase II, to advance the development of the REmote Phone Locator for Improved Emergency Rescue (REPLIER), proven feasible in Phase I. REPLIER is based on a modification of open-source, full stack LTE software, allowing it to establish a wireless connection to a smart phone using the LTE protocol, enabling distance (range) determination. Through the use of a direction antenna, REPLIER can determine the direction (bearing) of the target cell phone. Additionally, through software analysis of the target cell phone's transmitted signal, REPLIER can uniquely determine the device's International Mobile Subscriber Identity, uniquely identifying the device and eliminating the possibility of interference with other cell phone users and commercial cellular operations. REPLIER can locate persons in distress with resolutions of 78 m. In Phase I, POC developed a REPLIER proof of concept and demonstrated the technical feasibility for a range of use cases and concepts of operations, reaching technology readiness level (TRL)-4. In Phase II, REPLIER's capability will be expanded to include communications with all major U.S. smart phones and to support all U.S. frequency bands. POC plans to develop and demonstrate a field-tested prototype in preparation for transition/commercialization in Phase III. The successful completion of this project at the end of Phase III will benefit the nation in both government and commercial sectors by providing an effective means to track cellular signals for SAR operations