Tactical commanders require mobile, near real-time RF emitter mapping (RFEM) over relatively large areas and dense environments. This information is critical to force protection/situation awareness, targeting, and exploitation. Many challenges face real-time RFEM including: operations under non-ideal conditions, such as multipath and dispersive "real-world" channels; presence of Co-Channel Interference (CCI); RF emitter power fluctuation due to power control algorithms employed in commercial communication networks; etc. Other issues affecting performance include lack of line-of-sight (common in such environments), lack of compact and mechanically robust designs, and the variables and complications introduced by real-time, on-the-move operation. A powerful algorithm based on the Per-Survivor Processing (PSP) technique will be employed to obtain fast signal acquisition and data/channel parameter extraction. PSP algorithms have been developed and simulated for direction finding and multipath mitigation in high dynamic, extremely dense, cellular environments. Angle-of-Arrival and Time-of-Arrival information will be made available to a Geometry Engine in order to geo-locate the RF emitter of interest. Additionally, high performance Modulation Classification algorithms are to be explored and applied. Improvements in both system performance and reductions in system size, weight, and power are expected through innovative signal processing and packaging solutions.
Benefits: The primary benefit of this multi-phased SBIR program is the design of a high-performance, robust and cost-effective mobile RFEM system capable of determining the location of RF emitters in a relatively large area. These capabilities have beneficial application to other DoD services requiring low cost, high performance position location systems. The benefits also extend to government and commercial entities that operate private communication networks as well (e.g., 911 mobile handset location)for cellular
