Compact, Broadband Geolocation Systems

Existing technologies for geolocation of RF emitters have significant size and weight limitations, restricting their use on small UAV platforms. Quasar Federal Systems (QFS) has developed a method of geolocation using very small antennas; this method is based on measurement of the Poynting vector. The QFS antenna is isotropic, compact, and accurate in its direction finding performance. However, due to its small size, the QFS antenna is less sensitive than larger antenna arrays. This is particularly true for the antenna elements that measure the magnetic field components, which are in essence induction sensors. Dr. Antonio Palacios of San Diego State University has explored a novel configuration of sensor arrays and a new method of signal detection, known as Residence Time Detection (RTD), which together could lead to dramatic improvements in the sensitivity of induction sensors. This method has already been applied to other types of magnetic field sensors, including SQUIDs and fluxgates. In the case of fluxgates, prototype sensors have demonstrated sensitivity improvements of 2 orders of magnitude relative to conventional methods. In this proposal, QFS proposes to team with Dr. Palacios to investigate the application of the RTD method to induction sensors, and to quantify the associated geolocation performance.