SBIR-STTR Award

Innovative techniques are proposed for investigation in a Phase I effort to determine passive RF surveillance and targeting sensors and associated methodology for Performing rapid and accurate measurments of range/location of threat RF emitters. The essential physical constraints to be observed are sensor compatibility with, and portability of the associated range determination/processing equipment on, an airborne platform. The innovative techniques outlined in this proposal offer very promising alternative options for realizing passive RF ranging systems that satisfy these constraints. These techniques will be evaluated analytically in the proposed Phase I effort design analyses will be performed to define the tradeoffs in the practical implementations within the dynamic environment of airborne platforms with variable attitude, position and associated rates and other significant considerations. Definitive sensor configurations, sensor processing schemes/techniques, computational algorithms and operating modalities will be firmed up, and design and implementation latitudes will be established, complete with performance predictions, and a plan for proof-of-method experiments and a hardware development program for Phase II .

A Phase II program is proposed for developing, implementing and operating a bench model of an innovative Induced Doppler Emitter Locator (IDEL) system to provide a conclusive demonstration that proves the system concepts. The IDEL technique has been shown in Phase I to be superior to all other techniques for accurate passive ranging onboard a platform with very limited available physical space for passive ranging sensor aperture/baselines, and to be readily combinable with incremental ranging based on one-way range-rate Doppler and other passive ranging techniques. Detailed functional block diagram design of the bench model IDEL has been planned for operating frequencies in the S-band range of 2 to 3 GHz, which range is reserved for aerospace test range telemetry and is therefore presumed available for outdoor experimentation with and demonstration of IDEL. Moreover, proven components/modules are available, which reduces the need to develop new modules to those unique to IDEL.

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