Development of Algorithms for Characterizing Interleaved Emitter Pulse Trains with Complex Modulations

This SBIR extends and refines pulse clustering and de-interleaving software modules (C/C++), as explored in Phase I, to process non-contiguous clusters of pulses received from Electronic Support (ES) acquisition scanning receivers sampling the signal environment (spectrally, spatially, and temporally). It also provides an approach to detect, mitigate and better utilize pulses with multi-path. The result is improved Emitter Identification (EID), with quantitative confidence, and a reduction in candidate emitter lists and ambiguities. Algorithms and software leveraged include: pulse clustering using multiple parameters measured on each pulse, time based de-interleaving, RF Agile clustering, and cluster correlation. The effort addresses a wide variety of challenging emitter signal classes and agilities for which current approaches have shortfalls (RF agility, pulse repetition frequency (PRF) agility, pulse-width agility (PW), combinations of RF/PRF and/or PW agilities, and complex modulations). It also addresses multiple interleaved PRFs of various pulse-widths and modulations from single emitters.In Phase II the processing model is updated, software developed, and performance quantified. An EDM is developed and demonstrated (TRL6) with AN/SLQ-32 forward- and backward-fit architectures. RAS will work with platform and system integrators and the government to plan and define a Phase III transition effort to achieve TRL7.