Remote Phone Locator for Improved Emergency Rescue

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.