Cooperative RF Sensors

ABSTRACT: The goal of this SBIR is to explore the art of the possible and buy back performance using synergy and data fusion between multiple RF sensor munitions cooperating in flight. Our team, Matrix Research and Wright State University, will show how signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be improved using cooperative RF sensors. In particular, we will explore the techniques of cohere-on-transmit (COT) and cohere-on-receive (COR). For a monostatic radar, SNR can be improved by increasing power or aperture, or decreasing noise figure or range. The improvements in SNR we seek are due only to the cooperation of RF sensor munitions. Any improvement in an individual RF sensor SNR or resolution would be further improved by cooperative RF sensing. COT and COR can benefit all radar modes, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI). During Phase I of this SBIR, our team will analyze the use of a software defined radar to aid in synchronizing time and measuring platform motion within a RF sensor network comprised of a group of munitions. We will then analyze the improvement in SNR and resolution expected using both COT and COR techniques as a function of key design parameters. BENEFIT: There is an increasing need for detection, tracking and identification of targets within an A2AD environment. This need exists primarily within the Department of Defense (DoD). In order to reliably detect targets in a contested environment, the cooperation of multiple radar systems will greatly improve sensor performance. In order to achieve the increased performance, cohere-on-transmit and cohere-on-receive will be required. The commercialization strategy for military application of this technology will most likely involve one or more of the large DoD contractors involved in munition manufacturing. Our intent is to partner with a missile systems hardware design team to build to the determined specifications and incorporate the software developed under this SBIR. In addition to the military application of this technology, there may also be commercial applications to explore in automated vehicle navigation systems for cars and especially aircraft and UAVs.